Could you briefly explain BELBIM? How many people work at BELBIM? How do you come up with new ideas?

BELBIM, which stands for Istanbul Municipalities IT, Energy, Industry and Commerce Co. Inc., is an affiliate company of the municipality.

BELBIM is responsible for developing and implementing IBB’s (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) IT, network and electronics projects.

There are a total of 435 employees, including 119 engineers and 107 technicians.

BELBIM develops new projects in line with municipal needs and new practices in order to meet the expectations of citizens.

IBB uses technology to offer higher quality and widespread services, facilitate access to information as well as monitor and evaluate its services.

The projects aim to offer tools that facilitate people’s lives and enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of IBB’s companies.

In addition, BELBIM closely monitors the developments in technology and, in light of these developments, develops authentic product and system approaches and makes progress by adapting these to current systems.

Contactless cards are used in several metropolitan cities for transportation purposes. What products have you developed to facilitate transport for passengers?

“Şehirkart” (citycard), an electronic ticket, makes transportation significantly easier for passengers. It is ergonomic and easy to use simply by holding the card close to the card reader. Similarly, passengers can load units once per week/month, relieving them of paying with or carry around change.

Passengers can use their electronic card for public transportation. Discounts are applied for multiple uses. The transportation fees are distance-based therefore passengers pay only for the distance they have travelled.

It is possible to load units through the widespread points of payment or automated kiosks that run 7/24.

The same card can also be used for a variety of purposes, including: monitoring employee attendance; cafeteria control system; parking lot payments; utilisation of municipal social services; use as cinema/theatre tickets; sports facilities/sports club membership…

What are the benefits of contactless cards in transportation?

It’s a secure and fast payment tool.

It expedites boarding and travel time.

Fee scenarios that encourage public transportation can be applied in an easy and flexible manner.

It reduces the operating cost of the fee collection system.

It eliminates any possible counterfeiting.

It’s ergonomic, easy to carry and therefore creates customer satisfaction.

Could you briefly explain your current and future projects?

Istanbulkart (Istanbulcard) will be launched for as a city card for citizens. The card will also be used for different purposes.

With Kampüskart (campuscard), a single card will enable: controlling campus entries/exits; controlling the cafeteria on campus; scholarship tracking; library tracking; controlling entry/exit the university’s social/sports facilities.

The electronic wallet (for change) will enable cardholders to use the card as a payment tool for cinema/theatre tickets, payphones, automated kiosks (coffee, water etc.), canteens, cafés, bridge tolls, ferry rides, and municipal social facilities.

The card also offers facilities for the handicapped such as using the overpass/subway elevators and privileged crossing at the traffic lights.

The “park&ride” parking feature will be integrated into the public transportation system so as to reduce the use of privately owned vehicles.

In the long term, we are working on the NFC application that enables smart cards to work on mobile phones. This feature will allow cardholders to view their remaining balance and due dates from their mobile phone screen and menus. Similarly, through the remote access provided by GSM operators, users will be able to remotely/automatically load units. In addition, friends can share their prepaid units.

As metropolitan living is developing, technological applications are also developing with immense speed. How will the new projects affect the costs of managing Istanbul? For example, given the process spanning from ordinary paper to today’s contactless smart cards will we move on to a more economical and efficient transportation system?

Contactless cards make monitoring, auditing and managing the system easier and more reliable. When public transportation is transferred to an electronic environment it is possible to identify more realistic and efficient transport plans and achieve greater fuel and operating economy.

It also eliminates any loss of income that could be caused due to any counterfeiting attempts, which is possible with paper tickets.

In terms of environmental protection, it eliminates the waste of trees and pollution created by paper tickets.

Transportation authorities can apply fee scenarios in a flexible way that encourages public transportation, thereby reducing the use of privately owned vehicles and urban traffic congestion.

Would developing urban technologies for living in Istanbul make other or all cities in Turkey your customers? That is, in the near future do you plan to sell your products and services to cities like Ankara, Izmir and Adana?

We are interested in other cities where the system will be installed for the first time or where the system will be renewed.

In addition to selling the system, we are more interested in the integration and cross-validation of Istanbul and the other cities. In this respect, the determination and willingness of local governments are the determining factors. Using this feature will mean a lot for citizens and the country’s economy. People who have to live in and commute between different cities will be able to use their cards in several cities. Similarly, this feature becomes all the more significant for crossings to neighbouring cities. Speaking of Istanbul, it is closely linked to Pendik/Tuzla and Izmit/Gebze/Darıca. These examples can be multiplied such as for Yalova, Çorlu, Sakarya….

Have you received any international feedback for the technologies you developed? Do you export or plan to export your technologies abroad?

We are closely monitoring international markets. We have close relationships with East Europe and the Middle East, both direct and through local partner. Our system complies with international standards and has no restrictions as it offers multiple operating options.

As BELBİM A.Ş. you earned 3 patents and 4 trademarks for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (AKBIL, AKBIL a, ŞEHIRKART, AKBIL 24). Is there any demand from the private sector for your products and services?

The public and private sectors use our closed-loop solutions. We work intensely with parking lot operators as well as employee attendance and cafeteria control system operators.

You received several national and international awards for your projects. Could you talk a bit about the content of the awards?

BELBIM A.Ş. won the “ASD of the Year” award in 2000 at the “ASD (Authorized Software Development)” Conference”, which focuses on widespread software utilisation and is organised globally each year by the US-based company Dallas Semiconductor Corp.

BELBIM also won the “Environment Award” for reducing the use of paper tickets and developing an environmentally friendly product that reduces deforestation.

In addition, BELBIM’s city card project “Istanbulkart” was the winner in the Environment and Infrastructure category of the “Exemplary Municipal Projects Contest”.

What technologies aimed at facilitating metropolitan living should we expect in the near future?

The city card will meet people’s several needs.

The city card will run on mobile phones, adding an additional function to mobile phones that have become an indispensible part of our daily lives.

What are BELBIM’s targets for 2010? In 2010, will there be new products and services that facilitate the lives of Istanbulites?

As BELBIM, one of our main priorities is to add multi-functionality to contactless cards. Our main projects include rapidly launching the electronic card integrated with the parking system and the campus card for universities.

In addition, we are working on the distance-based pricing system for the current electronic tickets so as to apply it to the whole transportation network. We also aim to launch online and remote unit loading facilities.

What are expectations from Cardist-2010?

We expect to closely monitor technological developments, listen to and get to know novelties first-hand, and share and promote our know-how more efficiently.

Will you launch new products/services at this year’s Cardist?

This year at Cardist, we will be promoting our devices such as the Validator (GKM), AKDOM (Akbil Loading Machine), OSM (Automated Sales Machine), Tripod Turnstile, Flap Barrier Turnstile and PDKS (Employee Attendance Control System) devices as well as our electronic tickets Istanbulkart, IKIgeç (double pass), BIRgeç (single pass) and beşiBiryerde (five-in-one).

Why should IT companies take part in Cardist?

Companies should make good use of this fair, which is specialised in cards and payment systems. The fact that exhibitors are from this industry and focused in this area doubled with the latest products and services showcased makes this fair attractive enough.

In what way do you think is Cardist important to the industry? How do you think Cardist contributes to the industry?

It offers a high-quality and common environment for sharing. Semi-finished products, end products and services meet with real buyers. In this fair, you meet with the real manufacturers or satisfactory representatives of the products showcased.

The Cardist Award Ceremony will be will take place at this year’s Cardist. What are your thoughts about the awards?

We are competing with Istanbulkart in two categories, namely the “Most Efficient Project of the Year” and the “Smartest Card/Card Beauty” categories…