Pay-by-mobile phone trial starts in London

[Ironwalt]

Pay-by-mobile phone trial starts in London
Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:04am EST

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters Life!) - Shoppers in the British capital will be able to buy Underground tickets and newspapers with a wave of their mobile phone rather than cash during a trial starting on Wednesday.

Hundreds of people have been given special handsets fitted with a built-in credit card and Oyster card, the device used to pay for train and bus tickets in London.

When the phone is passed over a scanner in stations or shops, money is deducted from the mobile phone as payment, the trial's organisers said.

People can spend up to 10 pounds at a time at selected shops and cafes, including cafe chain Coffee Republic, _______ retailer Threshers and book shop Books Etc.

Wireless transactions are common in some countries, such as Japan, where consumers already use mobiles to pay for everything from burgers to train tickets.

Organisers say that if the six-month London trial is a success the scheme could be extended to include bigger payments, more shops and concerts and plays.

Those taking part will receive 50 pounds ($103.2) worth of Oyster journeys, 60 pounds off their O2 phone bill and 200 pounds to spend with the in-built Barclaycard.

The companies behind the trial include Transport for London, mobile phone firm O2, Barclaycard, Visa Europe, and Nokia.

(Reporting by Peter Griffiths; Editing by Steve Addison)

[scotsboyuk]

I have been waiting for this for ages! I can't wait for them to fully implement it! Incidentally, the £200 that some of the testers have been given can be used at Threshers (an off-license!)!