Basics of Mobile Ticketing and how it Works

This weekend the much awaited thriller you’ve planned to watch with your friends hits the multiplex. But it’s just 2 days away and you have no time to go get the tickets! Besides, the queue for the tickets seems to be never ending. Perplexed? You needn’t think any further if you have a mobile phone with Internet. Mobile ticketing solves this problem and gets your tickets delivered right to your cell phone. Mobile ticket users receive a specific code which is scanned at the venue after which you are granted entry. How easy and simple is that!
Mobile booking has made online ticket transactions so very hassle-free. No matter where you are, you can book your tickets on the go, pay for them, and get them validated on your cell phone or other hand held device. With the steady surge in eCommerce, and mCommerce in particular, people are opening up and getting accustomed to online purchases. The convenience of mobile ticketing and the functionality of mobile devices we use today are just going to speed up this trend even more.
Methods of mobile ticketing: There are a number of methods by which mobile ticketing can be done. Text messages, voice calls, online purchase, and even a mobile application can facilitate this. Mobile applications and WAP services are secure ways of carrying out monetary transactions for mobile ticketing.
Types of codes: The two kinds of technologies by which mobile ticketing can be done are Contactless (RFID or NFC) and Code Based (Bar Code or Text). Any kind of readable depiction of data in a visual format can be said to be a “code” in mobile ticketing. This code is displayed on the screen of the device. It can be delivered as WAP Push, SMS, or MMS. One of the most preferred method and the simplest form of mobile ticketing is text message. bCodes are delivered by SMS, and these are character based codes popular in Australia and the United States. There are two kinds of bar codes, one-dimensional and two-dimensional. Some ticketing systems also deploy digital signatures in order to avoid fraud. One-dimensional barcodes look just like normal ones you would find on items sold on retail. The two-dimensional ones are a bit more complicated. They have upto 16 characters and they contain multiple rows of information. So that’s more unique data. RFID or Near Field Communications technology is used for contactless mobile tickets. Mass transit ticketing uses this solution technology. And recently even mobile devices have them integrated within.
The rapid growth in use of mobile devices to do eBooking for entertainment, sports events, and travel is one of the major driving factors in the growth of mobile commerce. It has been forecasted that by 2014, 15 billion tickets will be issued on mobile phones. App-based, SMS and bar code services offered by transportation providers lead the way in the world of mobile ticketing.
The major advantages of Mobile ticketing
are it enhances the convenience-factor for consumers. Infrastructural costs are largely reduced and so are the costs for ticket printing and mailing. Lastly, the increasing accessibility to tickets increases revenue.