Payment by phone available on Beijing Subway

Commuters in Beijing are now able to use their mobile devices to access the Beijing Subway, reports the Beijing Youth Daily.

The phone payment program was started by Beijing Subway and bjsuperpass.com. The pilot system is currently being tested on the Fangshan Line on the Beijing Subway.

Online charging is also available for the phone payment system through an app, meaning riders won’t need to go to physical charging centers.

Nearly 160 different models of mobile phones are able to use the payment service. However, iPhones users are still not able to use the system.

The system also provides an overdraft, similar to the existing IC card system.

Payments can be made without the use of the internet. Mobile devices will have to be activated to make payments.