A new mobile payment service has been introduced to Hong Kong's public transport system, allowing commuters to pay for their fares with their smartphones.
The Octopus Card, a proximity-sensitive debit card, gets the territory's residents on and off trains, trams and buses, grants access through the gates at schools, and can be used to pay for items at local convenience stores.
The new mobile service integrates the Octopus Card's payment function with a user's smartphone using near-field communication, or NFC technology.
Sunny Cheung, the CEO of Octopus Cards Limited, says the service will be completely secure and personal data on the phone will be protected.
"If you look at the Octopus card, it's a proximity payment," he said.
"It's not easy for other people to tap into your account and take your money."
Octopus phone users will need to install a special SIM card in their device to allow the phone to function as an Octopus Card.
For now, the service is only compatible with certain Sony smartphone models, but Octopus says it is working with other network operators and phone manufacturers to include more networks and devices.
The new payment service has been deployed on a trial basis with only 5,000 SIM cards currently available.
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