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[bonty] 18/12/2006 14:23

Advanced Smart Trading Update


Advanced Smartcard Technologies plc
(The "Company")

Trading Update

18 December 2006

Advanced Smartcard Technologies plc (SMRT.LN), the Scottish based software group
specialising in smartcard technology, is pleased to announce that over a million
journeys have been taken by users of a NoW smartcard since the ITSO Smartcard
scheme was implemented by Metro Coastlines in September 2006.

The ITSO Smartcard system, which uses the Company's leading edge MultefileTM
technology, is a new national standard system that replaces cash and traditional
passes on buses. With over a million journeys now logged, the system has been
well received by passengers and is now accepted across Metro Lines' fleet of
over 200 buses and trams in the Fylde Coast area (Blackpool).

David Braddock, Managing Director of Advanced Smartcard Technologies plc,
commented:

"We are delighted that the ITSO Smartcard scheme has been so well received and
has passed this important milestone. We look forward to the ITSO Smartcard
scheme being adopted by other transport operators across the UK and
internationally."

For further information contact:

Advanced Smartcard Technologies plc 01355 268 521
David Braddock, Managing Director
Stephen Naylor, Finance Director

SVS Securities plc 020 7638 5600
Ian Callaway
Peter Manfield

ARM Corporate Finance Limited 020 7512 0191
Nick Harriss

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Advanced Smartcard Technologies plc

Advanced Smartcard Technologies plc, through its wholly owned subsidiary Ecebs
Limited, is a profit making, software company operating in the dynamic and
expanding smartcard arena. SMRT listed on AIM in December 2005. The Company
provides smartcard technology to a wide range of user markets including
transport, ID, healthcare, finance and local and national government departments
and blue-chip companies.

[colsmith] 15/12/2006 10:09

Just seen TESCO using its loyalty card to target Christmas shoppers; occured to me that a combined TESCO credit card and loyalty card is a failry obviuos marketing opportunity for TESCO to attract more customers to their credit card; and as card payment for "small" items takes off? they can be a checkout download for cash. Of course with an application on board the card there would almost certainly be other ways TESCO could sweat the benefit. Terminals would need an update but if loyalty cards are as useful as TESCO clearly have found this seems a natural progression. Just a smartcard loyalty card is another opportuniuty. These guys are so innovative I guess they must be looking at it? Suggests potential for many other "captive" cards - such as fuel cards. A big lurking market? easy to get carried away and maybe not quite like the laser a few years back - a solution looking for a problem rather an opportuniuty for the marketing guys!

[garth] 15/12/2006 09:58

From the consultation document:

"17
The new franchise is expected to be innovative in the use of new
technology in order to achieve increased revenue, make access to
the network easier and more attractive both to current passengers
and potential passengers and to make efficient use of capacity.
In particular, and in line with recent franchise replacements,
bidders will be asked to incorporate Smartcard and other
technology to:
• review retailing strategy and,
• offer new products..
In implementing these new approaches the franchisee would be
expected to actively participate in establishing a common industry
approach to the developments so that any changes to the current
retailing and ticketing arrangements retain the spirit of the current
Network Benefits, providing a single, national passenger-facing
framework."

[garth] 15/12/2006 09:39

"Companies with an interest in running the franchise have been asked to submit expressions of interest to the department by Jan 15 next year. The UK's big three transport group's FirstGroup PLC, National Express Group PLC and Stagecoach Group PLC are bound to be interested.

Short listed bidders will later be asked to bid against a specification based on a consultation published today. This proposes that current services are maintained and that the London to Leeds half hourly service continues."

Because the service hits London, following recent agreements with Transport London I would expect joint Oyster/ITSO to be stipulated.

G.

[garth] 15/12/2006 09:31

Ram,

East and West Midlands franchises both stipulated ITSO compliance on ticketing by 2008/9. I can't see anything on the web yet that gives specific details here on the East Coast - its mainly the original 2004 franchise tender documents. It would be surprising if they didn't stipulate ITSO - especially as the Scottish exec is already putting ITSO in place for concessionary travel on buses and ferries.

If ITSO is stipulated then Ecebs (Advanced Smartcard) are in - they designed and provide all ISAMs.

G.

[rambutan2] 15/12/2006 09:00

re east coast franchise. i've not been keeping up with this thread but are smrt in a position to go for this, and if not them, who?


5. Proposals for the new specification include:


Timetable: Existing services will remain. A regular half-hourly service between
London and Leeds is also included.

Fares: Fares will be set in a manner consistent with current Government policy.

Smartcards: It is proposed that the winner of the franchise competition puts in place a smart ticketing system across the franchise area and to look at
opportunities to offer passengers new ticketing products.

Stations: Bidders will be expected to demonstrate improvements in safety,
security and accessibility at stations.

[garth] 14/12/2006 12:15

Archa,

The NoWcard project states somewhere that around 1700 buses would be involved. With back-office support and any consultancy that might equate to around £100K for Ecebs - but that is total guesswork based solely on the sort of revenue they seem to get per ISAM and the assumption that they will install a card reader on every bus. Some contracts related to NoWcard appear to run 2004-07. I've no idea what the roll-out has been on equipment. Wayfarer talk about the roll-out of 500 of their ticketing machines. Are NoWcard using more than one ticketing supplier?

No idea what policy Ecebs will have used in booking revenue.

Hope that is of some limited help.

G.

[garth] 14/12/2006 11:50

Anyone any thoughts on SMRT's 'transparency' RNS on total shares?

Archa,

I'll get back to you on that one when I get a moment.

G.

[huttonr] 14/12/2006 11:29

Archa - it simply means that you can edit your posts after they have been displayed.

[archa] 14/12/2006 10:55

Help. My posts are being labelled 'edit' in the header. What might I be doing that I should not do or vice versa, not doing that I should be doing, that is causing me to be branded as some sort of a pariah?

Arch

[archa] 14/12/2006 10:51

A recent update to the Advanced Smartcard Technologies web site quotes David Braddock as saying, "Not only is this a momentous event for the NoW smartcard but it is also a momentous event for ITSO and Ecebs. The Blackpool system is operated using ISAMs supplied by Ecebs and the Ecebs AMS / HOPS back office system operated for NoWcard by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The incredible success achieved by Blackpool Transport in such a short space of time is testament to their capabilities but also of the underlying ITSO technology designed and supplied by Ecebs. It bodes well for the further ITSO deployments underway around the country and the growing International interest."

Does any reader of, or poster on this board have any idea of what this current supply contract could have been be worth financially to Ecebs, and more importantly in terms of its potential to contribute to the achievement of the forecast for current years profits?

Arch

[igoe104] 13/12/2006 16:10

yep here it is.

[huttonr] 13/12/2006 16:06

I've just seen a BBC news item about a Barclaycard and Oyster combined card trial - is this ecebs?? Garth - do you know?

[garth] 13/12/2006 16:04

Oyster equivalent to be introduced in Brighton:


And Oyster and Barclays sign VISA deal.....

[garth] 11/12/2006 11:06

Thanks AW.

I was kind of hoping we might have them before Christmas. The most recent ITSO newsletter has more on the Scottish roll-out of bus equipment.

G.

[awilson] 11/12/2006 11:00

Full year results are due "in the first two weeks of January but no firm date yet" according to SVS Securities.

[mcdermott900] 06/12/2006 13:54

test - can't seem to see post 263!!

[lourneslal] 30/11/2006 20:38

So what causes a stock to quickly appreciate in value? Fundamentals? News? Management? Well yes, to a degree. But what REALLY moves a stock price northward that you just purchased?
Answer: A Huge volume of buyers having been directed to the emergence of that stock by a qualified service which has a reputation for doing so. THIS service does:

[garth] 30/11/2006 12:55

Background reading:
Paypoint ITSO compatibility


Bolton SmartCard scheme using ITSO for travel, library & leisure:
/WP7-01c_-_Bolton_Pilot_Specification_-_v2%5B1%5D.0_Release.doc itso isam&hl=en &gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=46

[garth] 29/11/2006 19:45

Thanks igoe

[igoe104] 29/11/2006 15:57

This will interest some.

[garth] 28/11/2006 15:07

Worth a scan ;0)



G.

[colsmith] 24/11/2006 09:37

garth - is this thru cash loaded onto card? If not and its a credit transaction potnetiallyt many bits of paper will be needed for a user to keep track of what will apear on their monthly invoice; its a nightmare. Suggests the card needs self recording and a user can check by passing the card near their PC for example to get a readout later or weekly or when the invoice arrives. In fact this facilty on a SMARTCARD seems obviuos - the end of paper - where has that been stated before. All a move in the right direction but the whole process for customer payment needs to be defiend not just the payment bit otherwise users will liley shy away.

[garth] 24/11/2006 07:48

First Mastercard, now visa:

Visa to launch 'wave and pay' card in UK

Publisher: Jon Land
Published: 22/11/2006 - 17:19:58 PM Printable version

Visa 'wave and pay' card set
for UK launch Consumers will soon be able to pay for their morning coffee or buy a cheap round in the pub by "wave and pay" payment cards, it was announced today.

Visa UK said the contactless system, through which customers can buy small items by simply brushing their wallet over a card reader, will be rolled out across the UK by the end of next year.

Shoppers will be able to buy goods worth up to £10 without resorting to tapping in their pin number or waiting around for payments to go through.

But in a safeguard to protect users from getting fleeced if their cards get stolen, as soon as the £10 limit is reached, the card will require a 'chip and pin' transaction to verify that the owner is genuine.

Customers will then be able to use their contactless facility again for a further £10 worth of transactions.

According to Visa UK, the new technology could create time savings for customers and retailers and reduce queues at checkouts.

Transactions can be completed in less than half a second, the payment card company claimed.

It is envisaged that contactless payments would be particularly suited to fast-food outlets, coffee shops, newsagents, off licences, pubs and parking facilities - all of which tend to have high cash turnover.

It could put an end to long and frustrating queues at the bar and shave seconds off the morning rituals of buying the daily newspaper.

Sandra Alzetta, Visa Europe senior vice president of consumer market development, said: "With over 75% of all cash payments being less than £10, the introduction of contactless payments will play a major role in encouraging the use of cards over cash for low value transactions.

"In addition, the decision to go live in less than a year supports our vision for a cashless Olympic Games in London in 2012."

Visa UK said it was working with retailers to enlist their support in advance of the contactless roll out.