Dutch begin testing paying for trams, trains by mobile phone

Some 200 KPN and Vodafone users are taking part in tests to pay for public transport by swiping their mobile phone, broadcaster Nos says on Monday.

The testers’ phones have a special simcard which allows them to swipe their phones at the current public transport check-in readers. ‘We’ve been doing experiments but this is the first time we’ve involved consumers,’ Vodafone spokesman Geert Apeldoorn said.

If the three-month tests are successful, they will be expanded next year. Passengers will be able to track their travel movements via a special app.

Meanwhile, ING bank customers with an Android phone which supports ‘near field communication’ are now able to make contact-less payments in shops via mobile phone.

Rabobank introduced a similar function earlier this year, although it does not support all Android phones.