AT Hop card and Android

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bazzer

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#131063 7-Oct-2013 17:00

I found the Snapper app on my phone really handy. I can check the balance of my Hop card and even top up using my credit card if I'm short of funds (without any fees!)

I've finally been given the heads up that AT Hop is to be used on my routes starting from next week. Anyone know if they're going to have any Android functionality? Ideally, something similar to the Snapper App that will let me read/topup my AT Hop card? Even better would be if I could use my phone as my bus card using NFC or whatever.

Otherwise, at least I can top up the AT Hop card online, I suppose.

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#909421 7-Oct-2013 17:07

AT hop ran trials last year with telecom using NFC phones to pay for fares etc,
http://www.nfcworld.com/2012/04/30/315380/telecom-new-zealand-and-westpac-test-nfc-with-auckland-transport/

Its technically possible, It is just a question of whether the operators believe there is a market for cross over services

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bazzer

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#909423 7-Oct-2013 17:19

I read about that in the other Hop card thread. I was hoping there might have been an update. Topping up online looks OK, but there's still a $0.25 fee which I didn't have before.

Also according to the website:
"Important: If you add funds via your online account before 10pm on any day, those funds should be available on your card and in your online account the next day when you tag on to an AT HOP reader or go through the electronic gates at a train station. In some cases it may take up to 72 hours for funds to be available on your AT HOP card and in your online account."

Rather useless. The Snapper app used to update the balance immediately.

JayTaicho

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#909508 7-Oct-2013 20:22

It's so handy being able to top up via NFC with the Hop card. As you said it's instant. Would be a step backward if the AT card doesn't have this feature. Waiting a day for a payment to go through sounds like a pretty dated system. Hopefully my bus sticks with the Hop card for a while longer.

grudge

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#909511 7-Oct-2013 20:26

I agree with the sentiment in this thread. Maybe we should contact the right channels and make our concerns heard ?

I will be very inconvenienced by this change as there are no nearby dairies where I can top up my Hop card and I assume this will be the case with the AT cards too.

richms

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#909512 7-Oct-2013 20:27

And so few places to top up the AT HOP cards. Couple of dairys near here, which are open good hours have been turned down to be able to top them up, whereas there is a lotto shop with stupid hours that is able to top them up miles away.

IMO as the cards are NFC, why cant they do them on any damn eftpos terminal with NFC? Seems a joke of a system to me.

Richard rich.ms

grudge

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#909521 7-Oct-2013 20:35

I ended up filling a feedback form on the AT website, though I doubt it will achieve anything.

sonyxperiageek

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#909522 7-Oct-2013 20:37

What would happen if you had a concession card with a bus that is about to switch over to the AT Hop, but you still have some "clips" left?

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sonyxperiageek

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#909523 7-Oct-2013 20:39

Oh and does that 25c apply even if you top up online? If so, that's bullocks!

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richms

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#909525 7-Oct-2013 20:42

sonyxperiageek: What would happen if you had a concession card with a bus that is about to switch over to the AT Hop, but you still have some "clips" left?

There is a change over time where they accept both, and then after that the clip tickets are no longer accepted.

I always wondered how much forging of those clip tickets went on too.

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

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#909617 8-Oct-2013 07:05

Online topups are a bit of a nightmare for any ticketing system. They can only work if you're going to then be passing through a ticketing barrier that has connectivity so the card can be updated with the balance. This can't happen on a bus because it doesn't have realtime connectivity.

Online topup works well in Chch but it's very easy to get connectivity to every bus because the place is dead flat!

wasabi2k

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#909648 8-Oct-2013 08:49

bazzer: I read about that in the other Hop card thread. I was hoping there might have been an update. Topping up online looks OK, but there's still a $0.25 fee which I didn't have before.

Also according to the website:
"Important: If you add funds via your online account before 10pm on any day, those funds should be available on your card and in your online account the next day when you tag on to an AT HOP reader or go through the electronic gates at a train station. In some cases it may take up to 72 hours for funds to be available on your AT HOP card and in your online account."

Rather useless. The Snapper app used to update the balance immediately.

Sounds like a bit of arse covering - my online top-ups are instant.

I have mine setup to automatically top up $20 when balance goes below 10 - can do it all through the website.

huckster

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#909683 8-Oct-2013 09:31

There was a Snapper Android App.....? Nice marketing. Was fed up with having to find a dairy every week or so. Too late now.

Be aware.... as far as the AT HOP is concerned, "A top-up fee does not apply to Auto Top-Ups online"

Stu

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#909714 8-Oct-2013 10:23

I believe it had very limited compatibility http://www.snapper.co.nz/my-phone-has-nfc-can-i-use-snapper-mobile/

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wasabi2k

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#909719 8-Oct-2013 10:30

sbiddle: Online topups are a bit of a nightmare for any ticketing system. They can only work if you're going to then be passing through a ticketing barrier that has connectivity so the card can be updated with the balance. This can't happen on a bus because it doesn't have realtime connectivity.

Really? How hard is it to do 3G data?

richms

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#909721 8-Oct-2013 10:33

Or wifi off the many many hotspots telecom have installed on phone booths. Cant be too hard to pull down a list of recent topups each time the bus is parked at a bus stop within range.

Richard rich.ms

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