NEWS
APRIL 2008 SMARTCITIZEN DELIVER TRAVEL CARDS ON TIME DESPITE NATIONAL DELAYS
Cornwall based SmartCitizen Limited, specialists in providing local authority smart card schemes throughout the UK, have succeeded where many others failed this week. Despite numerous delays throughout England delivering the new English National Concessionary Travel Cards (ENCTS), SmartCitizen were pleased to announce that they had delivered all the cards they had been contracted to produce ahead of schedule. Director Simon Bennetts said "It's another great success story for SmartCitizen. Throughout the project there have been huge obstacles put in our way and long delays which have meant a small company delivering at all was going to be extremely challenging. To have all our cards in the post on the 25th March and arriving in the citizen's hands from the 26th is a real credit to our team."
SmartCitizen were also unique in delivering the ENCTS card on a different card platform. Bracknell Forest Borough Council are recognised as being a lead authority in the local government smart card arena and have had a multi-application citizen card in place since 2001. SmartCitizen were able to use the existing card platform to provide the new Concessionary Travel entitlement and ensure citizens of Bracknell Forest only had to carry one card to gain access to a number of council services and help provide efficiency savings. Vincent Paliczka, director of Environment Culture and Communities at Bracknell Forest Borough Council commented "The convenience to our residents of only using one card to access a range of services is important and a key part of the Council's vision. It was critical that we overcame all obstacles to retain this ability and as a lead authority in smart cards equally critical we delivered on time. We did this due to the outstanding efforts of SmartCitizen and their committed team".
Simon Bennetts added "Bracknell Forest provided us with an even greater challenge. They asked us to use their existing e+ card as a basis for the National Concession entitlement. No-one else in the country was doing that so we were on our own. It's a privilege to work with what is probably the most forward thinking smart card authority in England. We were delighted, and relieved, to be able to report to Bracknell Forest that all their cards were completed and in the post to their citizens on the 25th."
Cornwall's residents didn't fair quite so well. As with a number of authorities throughout England, some minor delays have been experienced but it has been reported the Cornwall ENCTS cards should be with residents shortly.
SMARTCITIZEN PRODUCES ENCTS CARDS JAN 2008
SmartCitizen are now one of a handful of companies that are able to produce the new English National Concessionary Travel Scheme smartcards
If you are still looking to engage with a bureau to produce your cards, why not contact us. For further information and pricing, please contact Owen McLaughlin on 07738 467857, owen.mclaughlin@smartcitizen.net
SMARTCITIZEN COMPLETES MANAGEMENT BUY OUT
Smart card specialists SmartCitizen announced today (May 11th 2007) that a team lead by its founders and senior management has concluded a deal to buy Smart Card Solutions’ stake in the business. This will give the team 100% ownership of the company.
Commenting on the announcement CEO Owen McLaughlin said:
“Since its formation in 2004, as a spin-out of Smart Card Solutions, SmartCitizen has rapidly established itself as a dominant supplier of card technology and services to the local government sector, and this was recognised recently when we were contracted by Bracknell Forest Borough Council to take on the programme management and technical support of the National Smart Card Project. Being in control of our own destiny will enable SmartCitizen to cement the strategic alliances we need to capitalise on our market leadership.”
For further information please contact Owen McLaughlin on 07738 467857, owen.mclaughlin@smartcitizen.net
SMART CARD NETWORKING FORUM (SCNF)
Join SmartCitizen at the next SmartCard Networking Forum event and AGM to be held at Wolves’ Molineux Stadium on 2nd May 2007, sponsored by the Black Country Knowledge Society. The day will cover:
- How do you work together across a region?
- What will be the impact of concessionary travel in England?
Related websites:
CAERPHILLY SMARTCARD PROJECT
SmartCitizen have been selected as consultants to Caerphilly County Borough council for the duration of their smartcard project, due to begin in March 2007.
SmartCitizen are working alongside leisure system providers Gladstone MRM and library system providers Infor (formerly GEAC) to deliver a joined-up smartcard solution for the council.
The implemented system will use the National Smart Card Project's Smart Connect software as the card management system, with links out to the leisure and library systems to ensure the council receives the most efficient solution.
For more information on the Caerphilly project contact Stuart Lawton.
Related websites:
Caerphilly County Borough Council Website
SMARTCITIZEN GET ITSO SCHEME OFF THE GROUND
SmartCitizen worked closely with Bolton Metropolitan Council to get their new ITSO scheme fully functioning and off the ground. The Bolton scheme is one of very few ITSO implementations in the UK, making it a landmark achievement for all involved.
Owen McLaughlin, Director of Smart Citizen, commented: “The launch of a sophisticated, multi-function citizen card with an ITSO capability is an important step forward for local authority schemes. This has been a challenging and rewarding project for all participants”.
The Bolton smartcard scheme has been established using products and software created by the National Smart Card Project. For more information contact Wendy Reddington at Bolton Council.
Related websites:
SCNF & LONDON CONNECTS EVENT 31st JAN 2007
SmartCitizen attended the London Connects open day held at Lord's Cricket Ground on Wednesday 31st January 2007.
The event was very well attended with over 100 attendees representing more than 30 different councils from across the country. Speakers included Adrian Cannon of Accourt, John Stout of Transys and Will Judge of Oyster.
The afternoon concluded with workshops run by SmartCitizen and Burall InfoSmart, Gladstone MRM and London Connects, and the SCNF and the LLDA (London Libraries Development Agency).
The SmartCitizen stand demonstrated the National Smart Card Project "Smart Connect" software, and their Special Needs "SNAPI" software.
Related websites:
WESTMINSTER PLAN TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE THROUGH "ONE CITY" SMARTCARD
The Leader of the Council, Sir Simon Milton announced plans for a One City smartcard in a speech to the Annual Budget Council Meeting on Wednesday 8th March 2006.
Sir Simon said "We are also planning to launch a One City Card that will consolidate all existing Westminster cards onto a single smartcard developed with TfL that can be used not just for council services but for making journeys on public transport and paying for parking meters as well."
SmartCitizen Ltd have been working with Westminster City Council to produce a business case and scheme design for a citizen smart card which will incorporate access to council services as well as integrating with TfL's Oyster platform for transport.
Related websites:
Westminster City Council's Leader's Speech
NATIONAL SMART CARD SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTED BY BRACKNELL FOREST
With assistance from SmartCitizen Ltd, Bracknell Forest Borough Council are introducing the Smart Connect software as a means of enrolling and managing travel cards within the Borough. The government's new legislation on travel means that from March 2006, residents who are over 60 years of age will be entitled to a free travel pass for use on the borough's buses. To prepare for the anticipated take-up of this offer, Bracknell are implementing the National Smart Card Project's starter pack software, Smart Connect.
The Smart Connect software has already been used for processing travel applications in Cornwall and Suffolk, and is also in use by Bolton City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council.
For more information on how your council could use the National Smart Card Project software to implement a county-wide concessionary travel scheme, please contact Sarah Bennetts on +44 (0)1872 562054 or email her at sarah.bennetts@smartcitizen.net.
Related websites:Bracknell Forest Borough Council Website
Travel discounts within Bracknell Forest Borough Council
ONE CITY, ONE CARD FOR WESTMINSTER
SmartCitizen have been commissioned by Westminster City Council to advise on the introduction of a "One City" smart card for Westminster residents.
The "One City" card aims to consolidate many existing card-based schemes, as well as to enhance and extend the range of services available. The new cards will initially be integrated with library systems, leisure services and the youth passport scheme. It is also hoped to replace the existing 44,000 resident discount cards, and will feature an electronic purse to allow for payment for goods and services such as car parking.
In partnership with Transport for London, the card will also serve as an Oyster card, allowing cardholders to travel on the city's buses and underground system.
Westminster City Council are looking to make use of the outputs from the National Smart Card Project, recently rebranded Smart Connect.
For more information contact Owen McLaughlin or visit www.westminster.gov.uk
LOCAL E-GOV SMART CARD OPEN DAY - LINCOLNSHIRE
SmartCitizen will be demonstrating the National Smart Card Starter Pack on Friday, October 28th 2005 at a smartcard open day event hosted by Lincolnshire County Council.
The demonstration will show the latest version of the National Smart Card Project Starter Pack, recently re-branded as "Smart Connect". The session will be interactive, allowing users to ask questions and share their concerns relating to implementing a citizen smartcard scheme in their area.
To register for the Open Day contact national.smartcard@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
SMARTCITIZEN DEMONSTRATE SPECIAL NEEDS SOFTWARE
SmartCitizen demonstrated their configuration software implementing the EN-1332-4 Smartcard encoding standard at October's LASSEO (Local Authority Smartcard Standards e-Organasation) meeting.
The meeting was held in London on Thursday 20th October, where meeting attendees were invited to stay for a demonstration of software implementing the EN-1332-4 smartcard encoding standard defined by John Gill, Chief Scientist at the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind).
The software demonstrated how a smartcard could be used to change the PC display settings to suit the individual user, simply by placing a smartcard onto a reader attached to the PC. Settings such as font size, screen colour and speech output are automatically configured by reading the details encoded onto a JCOP 30 smartcard. When the smartcard is removed from the reader, the software returns the PC to its original state.
The automatic configuration of the PC according to the individual's needs and the restoring of it to its original condition make the tool particularly attractive to libraries who provide public access PCs and who at present have to ensure their staff are available to assist in setting up a public access PC for a special needs user.
For more information on the configuration tool, please contact Owen McLaughlin on 00 44 1223 810250, owen.mclaughlin@smartcitizen.net
NATIONAL SMARTCARD PROJECT FINDS SAFE HOME
Bracknell Forest Borough Council will formally take over the £4.1m National Smartcard Project and its products, it was announced on 20 July.
The software developed by the project is now available to all English local authorities looking to implement multi-purpose smartcard schemes, via four licence agreement options.
SmartCitizen personnel had a leading role in the development of Work Package 9 of the National SmartCard Project, which produced the "Starter Pack" software as one of its deliverables. We continue to work with authorities such as Bolton and Bracknell to ensure the continued development of the Starter Pack software.
SmartCitizen are currently implementing the latest version of the National SmartCard Project Starter Pack software in Cambridge County Council, as part of the Cambridge Direct scheme. Other authorities looking for assistance in implementing a citizen smart card scheme in their area should contact SmartCitizen on (01233) 810266 for more information.
Read related article at egovmonitor.
For more information on the National SmartCard Project, visit the website at www.nationalsmartcardproject.org.
SMART OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNGSTERS
Item date: 20 July 2005As part of the "Youth Matters" proposal, Local Authorities will be encouraged to develop and pilot "Opportunity Cards", smart cards that would provide discounts on a range of things to do and places to go, and could also be topped up by young people and their parents with money to spend on sports and other constructive activities.
For disadvantaged 13-16 year olds, Central Government will top up the cards for those young people not engaging in unacceptable or anti-social behaviour. Rewards could also be given for those young people making progress in improving their situation.
The cards would be printed with a photograph and act as a proof of age.
If integrated with other smart card enabled government services, the cards could also provide access to library and leisure services, thus ensuring authorities also meet their IEG Priority Outcomes for these areas.
SmartCitizen would be interested in hearing from any local authority looking to pilot a citizen smartcard scheme in their area. The National Project Starter Pack software would be ideally suited to local authorities looking to implement any citizen smart card scheme, including a pilot "Opportunity Cards" scheme for teenagers.
Please contact us on (01872) 562054 for an informal discussion, or email sarah.bennetts@smartcitizen.net for more information.
SMARTCITIZEN AND TELLYTALK JOIN UP TO BRING THE ONE-STOP-SHOP TO THE CITIZEN
Item date: June 2005Local Authorities with smartcard schemes can now streamline remote customer interviews thanks to a link up between technology suppliers SmartCitizen and TellyTalk.
An increasing number of councils are putting in one-stop customer contact centres to facilitate interactions with the Public. These centres offer citizens a single point of contact with an authority with a choice of new channels, from SMS to email. TellyTalk has added another option with its award winning interview technology, which allows a citizen in a remote location to interact and exchange information with an officer as though they are both in the same room. Already 25 local authorities have adopted the TellyTalk solution.
However, until now, transactions involving authentication to prove a citizen’s identity and entitlement to certain benefits have still required face-to-face encounters. This has all changed thanks to SmartCitizen’s remote authentication solution using smartcards. Instead of the requirement to present official documents and bank or utility bills which are difficult to handle remotely, someone carrying a SmartCitizen card merely inserts it into a reader incorporated into the TellyTalk platform. TellyTalk then prompts for a password and authentication is complete.
In addition, using AchieveForms from Business Web Software, information can be read directly from the SmartCitizen card to populate the electronic form being completed by the officer and it can then be signed electronically by the citizen.
Commenting on the link up with SmartCitizen, David Heron, Chief Executive of the Technology Store said:
"Over the past two years SmartCitizen has built its reputation as an industry pioneer and a supplier of high performance smartcard technology to the National Smartcard Project. We needed a partner able to help integrate the functionality offered by smartcards into our solution, and in our evaluation SmartCitizen came out well ahead of the major players. We have already won two important contracts on the strength of the SmartCitizen link up.”
Owen McLaughlin, SmartCitizen founder and director added:
"e-Government has driven the adoption of citizencard schemes in the UK and the National Smartcard Project has provided a new impetus. We see smartcard authentication playing an important role in initiatives such as Government Connect. We are delighted to be working with TellyTalk and are convinced that the functionality we offer together will be of considerable interest to citizens everywhere.”
For further information please contact Owen McLaughlin on 00 44 1223 810250, owen.mclaughlin@smartcitizen.net
About the Technology Store
Technology Store are the developers of TellyTalk, a software package that enables transaction based videoconferencing for the delivery of shared services into the community aimed at the vulnerable customer, and into the broadband enabled home via the Web. It is used in 25 Councils, and an ODPM Partnership project bringing together New Forest Council, the Pensions Service, the Job Centre Plus and the CAB.
For more information telephone David Heron on 00 44 1900 828 814.
About Business Web Software
Business Web Software is the leading supplier of web-based software for electronic forms, FAQs, self-service and content management for the public sector. Business Web Software’s client list includes over 70 public sector organisations.
For more information about Business Web Software please visit www.businesswebsoftware.com
CAMBRIDGESHIRE DIRECT
Item date: June 2005Cambridgeshire County Council plan to launch their multi-application smartcard scheme with help from SmartCitizen.
Cambridgeshire County Council in partnership with Cambridge City Council, is about to realise the dream of introducing smartcards that will improve access to leisure, library and transport services within the City.
Smartcards are credit card sized devices with electronics built-in that can store more information, more securely, than traditional cards. Because of this new technology the same card can be used to access a wide range of different services.
Another benefit is that the cards can be loaded with financial credits which can be spent on goods and services.
The Cambridgeshire partnership has gained experience and expertise from the Government’s National Smartcard Project, and locally a pilot scheme with some 6,000 cards issued in the coming months. The pilot scheme is costing around £100,000.
Smartcards will initially be made available to regular users of leisure services in the city and Cambridge’s Central Library in Lion Yard. Park and Ride users are expected to be able to start using the system later in the year.
County Council Smartcard Manager Patrick Grange, said: “The main advantages of Smartcards are the convenience of needing just a single card to access a range of services, they enable people to use self-service where appropriate and end the need for people to carry cash to meet the cost of leisure, pleasure or library services.”
Cambridgeshire is also working with other local authorities in the Eastern Region to see how smartcard holders in the county can access similar scheme in other areas.
Cambridgeshire awarded contracts to SmartCitizen, Electronic Reading Systems and Smartex, to develop its pilot scheme.
Read Cambridge County Council's Press Release
BENJAMIN BRITTEN HIGH SCHOOL
Item date: May 2005SmartCitizen, in association with the Mid-Suffolk Key team, have implemented the first school scheme to use the National Smart Card Project starter kit software to deliver a multi-application smartcard.
Pupils and staff at the school in Lowestoft, Suffolk, have been issued cards which will be enabled both for access to the school, and to deliver free school meals in association with the school's catering system supplier, Cunninghams.
Associated links: Benjamin Britten High School website, Suffolk Key website.
EXPO EVENT - LONDON BARBICAN
Item date: April 2005SmartCitizen will be attending the Local e-Gov EXPO event at the Barbican Centre, London from 20th - 21st April 2005.
Our consultants will be available to demonstrate the National Smart Card Project starter kit as well as the latest smartcard technology including PC based and hand-held smartcard readers. An enrolment station will be set up equipped with a webcam to fully demonstrate online citizen enrolment.
For more information on the Local e-Gov EXPO event, visit www.localegovnp.org.
SCHOOL DINNER CRISIS
Item date: April 2005The recent media attention surrounding Britain's school meals has meant that local authorities around the country are seeking ways to promote healthier eating amongst their pupils.
The use of smartcards within schools has been amongst the suggestions on how to achieve this.
The many benefits of encoding free school meals entitlement onto the card chip are making smartcards an attractive means of achieving their goals.
Benefits include:
- De-stigmatisation for those children receiving free school meals
- A means of recording what children are purchasing and rewarding healthy eaters
By using electronic purse (e-purse) facilities on smart cards, parents can ensure that dinner money is spent in the canteen and not in vending machines or local shops. Bullying can also be avoided since the children have no need to carry cash on them.
For more information on how to implement a cashless catering scheme in your area, please contact one of our consultants on (01872) 562054 or email us at: cashless-catering@smartcitizen.net.
SPECIAL NEEDS
Item date: April 2005SmartCitizen have been working in conjunction with Mid Suffolk District Council and John Gill, Chief Scientist at the Royal National Insitute for the Blind (RNIB), to develop the first program designed to implement the EN-1332-4 Coding of user requirements for people with special needs
Using the National Smart Card Project deliverables, SmartCitizen have encoded cards based on the standards identified by the RNIB and developed a beta piece of software which uses a PC based card-reader to read the settings from the card and customises the computer desktop accordingly.
When the card is removed from the reader, the software returns the desktop settings to their original state.
It is envisaged that this could save time for public-facing local authority staff in assisting people with special needs to configure public access terminals to their specific requirements.
For more information on how the software is developing, please contact Owen McLaughlin on (01233) 810266 or via email: owen.mclaughlin@smartcitizen.net.
SUFFOLK KEY
Item date: February 2005SmartCitizen have been working with Mid Suffolk District council to relaunch their Mid-Suffolk Key smartcard scheme.
For more information on the Suffolk Key project, visit their website at www.onesuffolk.co.uk/suffolkkey.
NATIONAL PROJECT EXPERIENCE SHARING WORKSHOPS - SPRING 2005
Item date: January 2005Following on from our success at the Autumn 2004 experience sharing workshops, SmartCitizen have been asked to present the National SmartCard Project Starter Kit at another series of workshops around the country, organised on behalf of the ODPM.
Dates and locations of the presentations are as follows:
- Tuesday 22nd February 2005 - The Moat House, York
- Tuesday 1st March 2005 - The Royal Moat House, Nottingham
- Tuesday 8th March 2005 - The Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, London
- Tuesday 15th March 2005 - The Hilton, Bristol
- Tuesday 22nd March 2005 - The Moat House, Bolton
For more information on the National Project Experience Sharing events, visit www.localegovnp.org.
NATIONAL SMART CARD PROJECT
Version 2 of the starter kit now available.
For more information on the National Smart Card Project, visit their website at www.nationalsmartcardproject.org.uk.
SMARTCITIZEN TO MANAGE NATIONAL SMARTCARD PROJECT SOURCE
Smartcard specialist SmartCitizen announced today that it has been awarded a joint contract with Fujitsu to provide a Source Management service for the National Smartcard Project.
The contract will involve creating and maintaining the National Smartcard Project master open source and supporting local authorities setting up citizen card schemes based on this new standard.
The National Smartcard Project is part of the UK’s Implementing Electronic Government (IEG) programme which mandates that all local authority services must be available electronically by 2005.
Smartcards are recognised as the most convenient means of citizen identification and authentication for government transactions, improving accessibility and reducing service delivery costs. They can also provide a portable and secure record of benefit entitlements and membership of the various schemes operated by an authority.
Commenting on the contract award, Chris Poulton, SmartCitizen Chairman said:
“Every local authority is required to have introduced smartcards before the end of 2005. The National Smartcard Project has assembled the main building blocks needed for councils introducing smart citizen schemes. So instead of starting from scratch, authorities introducing smartcards can now get fast results at minimal risk. Not surprisingly there has been tremendous interest in our starter kit. We are delighted to be working with the National Smartcard Project to facilitate the rapid take up of this technology”
Owen McLaughlin, SmartCitizen business manager added:
“SmartCitizen was set up to provide local authorities with a single source for all their citizen card technology and service needs. Our team has contributed to some of the UK’s most important card projects to date including the Cornish Key, the Suffolk Key, the Herts Smart Scheme and the National Smartcard Project starter kit. We are very pleased to be part of this important initiative.”
