Account-based ticketing (ABT, sometimes ID-based Ticketing) is a modern fare collection system where a passenger's travel rights are linked to their account rather than a physical ticket or card. In this system, the passenger's account stores all the travel information, payment details, and journey history. When the passenger taps in or out of a bus or tram, the system verifies their account and calculates the fare accordingly, charging them post-travel. This approach allows for greater flexibility, as passengers can use various identifiers (like mobile apps, smart cards, or bank cards) to access their account, making the travel experience more seamless and personalized.

EMV ticketing for public transport allows passengers to pay for fares using contactless credit or debit cards, smartphones, or smartwatches. The system uses EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) technology, which securely processes payments by tapping the card or device on a reader. This simplifies the ticketing process by eliminating the need for traditional paper tickets or specific transit cards (see closed-loop), making it quicker and more convenient for passengers to access public transportation.

In Account-based ticketing (ABT), fare media refers to the various tools or identifiers passengers use to access their travel accounts and authorize their journeys. Common fare media in ABT include:

Contactless Bank Cards: Passengers can use contactless debit or credit cards (EMV cards) to tap in and out of transport services, with fares charged directly to their linked account.

Mobile Apps: Smartphone apps can be used as fare media, allowing passengers to scan QR codes or use NFC technology to authenticate their trips.

Smart Cards: Reusable smart cards linked to a passenger’s account can be tapped on validators (like INIT's PROXmobile or TICKETvalidator) to authorize travel.

Wearable Devices: Devices like smartwatches with NFC capabilities can also serve as fare media, allowing passengers to tap in and out with their wearable tech.

QR Codes or Barcodes: Digital or printed QR codes and barcodes linked to a passenger’s account can be scanned at entry points to validate travel.

These fare media provide flexible and convenient ways for passengers to access and manage their travel accounts in an ABT system.

In Media-based (or often card-based) ticketing, a passenger's identity is linked directly to a specific ticket or card. The fare and travel rights are tied to this physical or digital ID, and validation occurs at the time of use. For example, a transit card or a QR code on a mobile ticket acts as the identifier, and fare deductions or validations happen instantly upon tapping or scanning. Unlike ABT, Media-based systems typically require preloaded funds or immediate payment.

Therefore, ABT offers more flexibility by centralizing everything in a passenger's account, while Media-based ticketing directly ties travel rights to a specific ID or ticket.

PCI certification refers to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance. It is a certification that businesses must obtain to ensure they are securely handling credit card information. This certification involves meeting a set of requirements designed to protect cardholder data, such as implementing strong access control measures, maintaining a secure network, and regularly monitoring and testing security systems. Achieving PCI certification demonstrates that a company adheres to industry standards for protecting sensitive payment information, reducing the risk of data breaches and fraud. INIT's validators obviously meet all transit-related requirements and are PCI-PTS compliant. PTS stands for PIN Transaction Security.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a software delivery model where applications are hosted on a cloud server and accessed over the internet. Instead of purchasing and installing software on individual devices, users subscribe to the service and use it through a web browser or app. This model offers flexibility, as it allows users to access the software from anywhere with an internet connection and typically includes regular updates and maintenance handled by the service provider. INIT's TapNGo is a Ticketing SaaS solution, i. e. Ticketing-as-a-Service.

As explained under "Software-as-a-Service", Ticketing-as-a-Service (TaaS) is a concept similar to Software-as-a-Service but specifically tailored for ticketing solutions. TaaS allows you to use a cloud-based platform to manage and sell tickets without needing to build or maintain your own ticketing infrastructure. TapNGo is a TaaS solution where INIT administers and operates the central system. It takes into account a wide range of providers, such as Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay and apple Pay with more to come.