Handheld signs agreement with SJ

Handheld Scandinavia AB has signed an agreement with SJ (Swedish Rail) regarding the delivery of mobile computers for all of SJs train conductors.

Handhelds new product M3 eTicket has been chosen by SJ to replace the present system for electronic ticket management. The agreement is for 3 years and deliveries will start early 2008.

The agreement, which is one of Handhelds largest contracts so far, includes the new product M3 eTicket. M3 eTicket is a product specifically introduced for the public traffic sector, with a focus on mobility and the latest technological solutions.

M3 eTicket is a mobile computer with a number of integrated applications such as Barcode reader, WLAN, Bluetooth, camera and GSM/GPRS. With its durable design, the product can withstand falls from 1.5 meters and it is exceptionally flexible and light.  With its IP64-rating,, M3 eTicket withstands dust and water as well as external temperatures, from -20 C up to +50 C. 

The solution which SJ has chosen is the result of collaboration between Handheld Scandinavia and Arcontia AB, who developed a mobile ticket system (e-Ticketing) for public transport. The application is based on Handhelds durable mobile computer M3+, in which Arcontia has integrated a smartcard-reader for ISO 14443, type A/B standards. Since the degree of difficulty for solutions of these kinds is high and the complexity is large, the synergy for the collective experience is important in order to be able of offer highly qualitative solutions to customers all over the world.

We are very proud of the order from SJ. It is an exciting agreement, since SJ as a customer is very visible having more than 100,000 travellers per day who will be exposed to our equipment. The agreement is important to us and is one of the largest individual agreements we have signed. ", says Jerker Hellstrm, CEO and Chairman for the Handheld Group.

Our choice was Handheld and M3 eTicket because the product and company best suited our high demands. Since we are now implementing a new system, it has been important for us to choose a solution which lies ahead in technology, says Ragnar Reuterstad, project leader for SJ.

The fact that SJ (Swedish Railways) once again has chosen our state-of the-art readers for their electronic ticketing deployment shows that Arcontia and our partner Handheld Scandinavia are setting the bar when it comes to providing advanced smart card solutions for the public transport sector. What distinguishes this product from earlier mobile solutions is that we now have made a truly embedded e-ticketing solution for PDAs. remarks Magnus Stahlberg, Intl Sales & Marketing Manager, Arcontia.

About the Handheld Group

The Handheld Group was founded in 1997 and is today one of Europes leading suppliers of durable mobile computers for branches such as forestry, geodesy, construction, maintenance, transport & logistics, etc. The companys focus is, together with collaborating partners, to deliver complete solutions for mobile hand-held computers from a European perspective. HHCS Handheld Computer Specialists AB is the parent company of the Group, which also includes Handheld Europe AB, Handheld Scandinavia AB and HHCS Handheld Finland OY. The companys head office is based in Lidkping with local offices in Gothenburg and Lahti.
 

About SJ

Each day, close to 100,000 travellers travel with SJs trains to about 350 destinations, from Malm in the south to Storlien in the north. In 2006 SJ AB had a turnover of SEK 6.9 billion. 3,500 SJ employees work towards making the train-ride easy, comfortable and secure. SJs electric trains are marked with Bra Miljval (Good Environment Choice) they fulfill the toughest environmental demands in the world. Frequent travellers collect benefits and points as members of SJ Prio.

About Arcontia

Arcontia is one of Europes leading suppliers of contact-free smartcards and terminals. The company develops, manufactures and markets smartcard products and services which are today used as electronic tickets within public transport and electronic passes for public authority security. The company has been in business since 1996 and has its office in Vstra Frlunda.