Subway riders can now swipe phone to pay

Passengers with an Android phone can now swipe their phones to board the Beijing subway.

Riders with compatible phone models need to download an app to use the phone for the lines, according to local authorities.

The new method began on Aug 14 and signs announcing that a phone can now function as a public transportation card are posted around stations and along subway lines in the capital.

Currently, the function is limited to around 160 Android phone models with a near-field communication, or NFC, function.

Beijing Transportation Co launched a pilot program on the Fangshan line about a month ago and attracted about 200,000 phone users.

Wu Lihua, 35, a worker in the healthcare industry, says she has used the mobile option. "It's very convenient," says Wu, who uses a Huawei Mate 9.

Zheng Ce, 25, who works in sales, says she heard about using mobile to top up a bus card, but had never done it. When the NFC function was introduced, Zheng says she wanted to try but her phone was not compatible.

There are also some technical issues that have been raised because of the new function and the compatible phone type.

When 26-year-old Wang Xueshuo tried downloading the app for his Huawei P9 phone, he charged it with 50 yuan ($7.50; 6.40 euros; ￡5.80). But he found that the phone could not be swiped through the subway gate.

"I often buy tickets with cash," Wang says. "I wanted to try the new way, but I didn't expect my money to get stuck in the app."

According to staff members at Beijing Subway Co, the mobile subway card reduces some pressure during rush hour. However, there were some problems. A phone might die on a long subway ride, for example.

An introductory memo explaining how to use mobile tickets is available at all 274 subway stations in Beijing. Users can also find information through the subway system's WeChat account.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

(China Daily European Weekly 08/18/2017 page15)