QNX Technology powers automated fare collection system from MSI Global

We've already had some news from Asia in the past 24 hours with the BlackBerry Leap now being available to buy in Malaysia, but it's time for another announcement - this time regarding QNX.

As you'll see in the press release below, QNX will now be powering a fare collecting system within Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand. Already onboard nearly 5000 buses in Singapore it's just another slice of the pie that QNX and BlackBerry are conquering.

The average person will have no idea that BlackBerry does more than make smartphones. The QNX software is a big part of the business and an integral provider of revenue for the company. And it sure is great to see this side of the business growing.

Press Release

OTTAWA, May 21, 2015 — QNX Software Systems Limited, a subsidiary of BlackBerry Limited, today announced that the QNX® Neutrino® OS is powering a fare collection system, which includes automatic gates, ticketing machines, and onboard bus equipment, throughout the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand. The system was created by MSI Global Pte Ltd, an international system integrator specializing in land-transport solutions and a subsidiary of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore. LTA is responsible for planning, operating, and maintaining Singapore's land transport infrastructure and systems.

The onboard bus equipment is an enhanced version of a QNX-based fare collection system that LTA has already deployed in more than 4,800 public buses in Singapore. MSI implemented the improved onboard bus equipment to replace existing equipment due for replacement, to further enhance performance, and to support various new fare products. Security was a key criterion for MSI, and the highly resilient architecture of the QNX Neutrino OS, which minimizes attack vectors, was a natural choice for the new design. QNX Neutrino helped reduce system costs through its fast, highly reliable performance, which allows multitasking of multiple subsystems while minimizing failures in the demanding operating environment of buses. QNX Neutrino also helped MSI create an intuitive user interface through its support for advanced graphics technologies, including HTML5.

"MSI's experience with QNX Neutrino has been very favorable and we will continue to leverage the same secure OS for our future projects," said Silvester Prakasam, fare system business unit head, MSI. "Creating a solution that could gain widespread adoption was also a key consideration in our choice of OS, and with QNX Neutrino we were able to create a design that is fast and reliable, yet affordable to customers in cost-sensitive regions." "As the enhanced onboard bus equipment demonstrates, embedded systems today need a comprehensive OS platform that encompasses everything from Web technologies and advanced graphics to security, connectivity, and high reliability," said John Wall, chief operating officer, QNX Software Systems. "We are honored that MSI chose QNX for the new onboard bus equipment system; their decision is a testament not only to the success of the existing QNX-based LTA system, but to our deep experience in embedded transportation systems for cars, buses, planes, and trains."

Visit the QNX Software Systems website to learn how QNX-based systems make a difference in everyday life.

About MSI: Since 1995, MSI Global Pte Ltd (MSI) has been spear-heading innovation, development, and management of all matters relating to land transport, both within Singapore and overseas. MSI's core competencies include providing comprehensive turnkey solutions for automatic fare collection and central clearinghouse systems, as well as various forms of land transport-related management and consultancy services and solutions like transportation planning and rail systems engineering. Visit http://www.msi-global.com.sg/.

About QNX Software Systems: QNX Software Systems Limited, a subsidiary of BlackBerry Limited, is a leading vendor of operating systems, middleware, development tools, and professional services for connected embedded systems. Global leaders such as Audi, Siemens, General Electric, Cisco, and Lockheed Martin depend on QNX technology for their in-car electronics, medical devices, industrial automation systems, network routers, and other mission- or life-critical applications. Visit www.qnx.com and follow @QNX_News on Twitter. For updates on the company's automotive work, follow @QNX_Auto and visit qnxauto.blogspot.com.

A global leader in mobile communications, BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. Visit blackberry.com.

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