Beep (smart card)

beep
Location Metro Manila
Launched July 20, 2015[1]
Technology
Operator AF Payments Inc.
Manager AF Payments Inc.
Currency PHP (₱10,000 maximum load)
Credit expiry 4 years
Validity
Retailed
Website www.beeptopay.com

Beep (stylized as beep) is a reloadable contactless smart card aimed to be a replacement for the magnetic card-based system in paying rail based rapid transit transportation fares in and around Metro Manila. Beep is also aimed to be used in lieu of cash in some convenience stores and other businesses. The Beep system is implemented and operated by AF Payments Incorporated, which is primarily owned by Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

Background

A woman uses a Beep card to exit the loading/unloading area of a MRT station.

The Beep payment system is implemented and operated by AF Payments Incorporated, which is a joint venture of Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.[2]

The system makes use of a reloadable contactless smart card of the same name. Each card can store a value of up to ₱10,000. Beep cards can be used to travel through the LRT-1 and 2 and MRT-3 lines, select bus lines, and to pay for toll fees on the CAVITEX and NLEX roads. They can also be used as a mode of payment at FamilyMart stores through the tap-to-pay system. Aside from at FamilyMart outlets and MRT and LRT stations, beep cards can be reloaded at Bayad Centers, SM Bills Payment Centers, Villarica Pawnshops, and Tambunting outlets,[3] and the Coins.ph app for NFC-enable devices.[4]

History

By August 5, 2015, all stations of LRT-1 and 2 lines were already using beep cards.[5]

A unified ticketing system for all elevated rail lines in Metro Manila was completed when the beep card system became available to use in all stations of the MRT-3 line in October 3, 2015.[6][5]

AF Payments and FamilyMart secured a partnership which allowed the reloading of beep cards in FamilyMart outlets starting December 7, 2016. It also allowed patrons of the convenient store to make purchases using the smart card.[7] AF Payments also planned to secure simillar deals with 7-Eleven and Ministop.[8]

Reception

AF Payments Inc. announced in March 2017 that it has sold 3 million beep cards, mostly to riders of LRT and MRT since it began the system's operations in 2015. It claimed that about 60 percent of MRT and LRT riders used Beep cards to pay their train travel expenses while the rest used the standard single-journey tickets.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "LRT-MRT automated ticketing system starts September". Rappler.com. Rappler. March 25, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Ignacio, Reiceline Joy (17 March 2017). "AF Payments hits 3M mark in beep card sales". Manila Times. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  3. ↑ "'Beep' card reloading available in malls, pawnshops". ABS-CBN News. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Tap and Load your beep™ Card with the Coins.ph Android App". Coins.ph. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  5. 1 2 "MRT-3 passengers start using beep cards". GMA News. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  6. ↑ Corrales, Nestor (1 October 2015). "LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3 to use 'beep card' starting Oct. 3". INQUIRER.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "AF Payments to further expand beep card usage". BusinessWorld. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "AF Payments partners with FamilyMart on 'beep' cards". GMA News. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
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