The Nexus S Android phone is capable of reading and emulating RFID. An application called Farebot demonstrates how the phone could be used to emulate RFID fare cards. This apparently could make it cheaper and more convenient for transit riders. However, the software's author also points out how many of these cards keep records trip information in clear-text. This creates a bit of a privacy issue since it is so easy for this software to read cards from people who merely happen to walk close enough to you.
Currently FareBot can parse and display balance and trip history information from Seattle’s ORCA card, and can dump raw data from any other MIFARE DESFire card including San Francisco’s Clipper card. FareBot is open-source and designed to be flexible so that hopefully other developers will add support for other types of cards.
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