BART to test mobile phone payments
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in San Francisco starts a four-month trial today in which 230 hand-picked volunteers will be able to use mobile phones to purchase tickets, pass through the fare gates and download information.
The participants, all regular BART riders who have Sprint or Boost mobile service plans, will test Near Field Communication, allowing their phones to interact with everything from ticket machines to smart advertisements in the stations. They also will be able to pay for food and drinks at Jack in the Box restaurants during the trial period.
BART is having a press conference unveiling the cell phone trial at its Powell Street station in San Francisco at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 29. Check back for more information later.