Jetstar’s world-first SMS boarding solution delivered using Sissit TruMobile Ticketing™ technology

The world-first solution is helping leading low fares carrier Jetstar offer a 100% self-service check-in and boarding experience to all passengers regardless of the mobile phone they are using.

Melbourne, Australia- May 23, 2011

Australian IT innovations company, Sissit Group has today announced that its world-first TruMobile Ticketing™ and Universal Scanner technology is behind successful, low cost carrier, Jetstar’s new SMS check-in and boarding options.

Developed in partnership with Jetstar, Sissit’s Universal Scanner hardware, and TruMobile Ticketing™ software, is deployed in Sissit-built portable boarding kiosks and integrated into IBM-built self-service kiosks, at over 20 airports across Australia and New Zealand.

The SMS TruMobile Ticketing™ platform allows Jetstar’s 14 million passengers annually to board domestic flights quickly and easily by scanning a boarding pass delivered to their mobile phone via plain text SMS.

“We wanted to build a solution that would allow all passengers to enjoy the convenience of a full self- service check in and boarding system, not just those that were savvy on a smart phone,” said Sissit Co-Director Aaron Hornlimann. “SMS is accessible to all age groups, its quick and easy and doesn’t have the dependency on data coverage, which can be problematic especially in the airport environment”.

By simply placing the phone under the scanner at a self-service kiosk with the SMS boarding pass loaded, the optical reader verifies the alphanumeric code and the passenger can quickly confirm their identity, choose their seats, print boarding passes and bag tags, drop off bags at the counter, and proceed straight to their departure gate. Passengers without checked-in baggage can proceed directly to their gate, scan their SMS boarding pass at a Sissit-built boarding kiosk and take their seat.

With research suggesting that only 7% of Australians own data subscribed smartphones, current mobile check-in options offered by other airlines are out of reach for the vast majority of travellers. These figures are echoed internationally with smartphone ownership in the US at only 28% (does not include data subscription) which is on par with the UK, and the highest smart phone penetration being recorded in Spain at 37%. In testing, the universal Scanner has successfully scanned mobile handsets that were in excess of 8 years old, as well as a string of new release handsets.

“These new world-first technologies will make the Jetstar airport experience more convenient, hassle-free and simpler,” said Jetstar CEO Bruce Buchanan. “Retrieving a boarding pass for a domestic flight will now be as simple as receiving a standard text message 24 hours prior to travel and having that SMS message electronically scanned at the gate to produce a boarding pass.”

The benefit is not only being enjoyed by passengers. The carrier has also seen efficiency gains of more than 200 percent with up to 15% improvement in passenger flows at boarding gates. The integration of the SMS ticketing technology has reduced the check-in process to just 12 seconds, as compared to 27 seconds using existing self service options and 65 seconds for a full service check-in.

Existing methods of check-in have also gained from the innovations inclusion. The Sissit Universal Scanner is fully compatible and can read all existing mobile and paper based barcode systems as well as featuring cutting edge RFID and NFC (near-field communication) scanning. This will deliver an even greater user experience and efficiencies in preparation for the next wave of mobile handset and mobile payment platforms.

“We’re really excited about the NFC and RFID based scanning,” said Sissit Co-Director Achilles Tzelepis. “We’ve been very intentional in building that functionality into our product as it’s the next big thing and we’re very proud to be able to offer it as a ticketing and mobile payment option.”

With the industry innovation now rolled out across 140 IBM self-service kiosks and 120 Sissit portable boarding Kiosks, the next phase will see the delivery of a number of smaller, Sissit-built counter top scanners for use at Jetstar service counters for aided check-in.

The TruMobile Ticketing™ platform’s early success within the aviation industry has generated interest from numerous other sectors including events, cinemas, public venues, transport and retail. With a mobile handset compatibility of over 99% and a future-proofed NFC option, it provides a mobile ticketing, promotion and payment platform that will see an enhanced customer experience and operational cost saving delivered across a number of industries.

For more information on Jetstar please visit: http://www.jetstar.com

SISSIT (Victoria, Australia) is a leading mobile technology and integrated systems company that helps service industries achieve greater efficiency and enhanced user experience using mobile ticketing platforms. Awarded a place in the Australian Business Review Top 100 ITC strategic list, Sissit has developed SMS, RFID and Near-field Communication (NFC) ticketing solutions that boast over 99 percent compatibility with yesterdays, today’s and tomorrow’s handsets.

Sissit has recently delivered a world-first SMS-based check-in and boarding options for major Australian airline, Jetstar with a focus on providing a far more accessible and efficient mobile ticketing solution to the aviation industry. The technology will soon be seen across other industries including transport, events, entertainment, public venues and retail.

Contact Information

Myles Tzelepis
Sissit Marketing & Business Development
T: +61 2 8625 0600
M: +61 404 661 093
mylest@sissitgroup.com