German buses to test mobile phone payment system

Early next year, travelers in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Germany, will be able to pay for tickets by passing their phone over a smart-card reader on the bus, reported the BBC News. Passengers will need to use a Nokia 3220 handset with a special shell, designed by Philips, that is compatible with Hanau's existing ticketing system. Nokia officials said the system will reduce lines and make traveling easier. The ticketless pilot program will begin in early 2005 and people will also be able to access transport information and timetables via their phones, said the BBC.