Visa Pilot Program Lets New Yorkers Pay for Transit With the iPhone [Video]

Visa has announced a pilot program that lets commuters in New York pay for transit using their iPhone.

"Transit agencies the world over have one primary goal - to get their customers to where they need to go quickly and efficiently. What transit agencies and riders recognize is that using Visa on buses, subways and trains is the logical evolution in terms of improved speed, security and convenience," said Jim McCarthy, global head of product, Visa Inc. "For commuters, paying with Visa means no more fumbling for change or worrying about lost transit cards. For transit authorities, accepting Visa means better customer service, integrated collections and the potential for increased ridership."

The pilot program in New York uses Visa payWave technology, which is based on a small electronic chip embedded in a mobile phone or payment card that communicates securely with contactless readers at the fare gate and on the bus. Transit riders pay by simply holding their Visa payWave-enabled mobile phone or card near the designated reader at the fare gate.


The NYC transit trial covers 28 stops along the Lexington subway line in Manhattan, enabling busy commuters to pay with a wave of their mobile phone or card enabled with Visa payWave technology.

Visa payWave is also accepted at most PATH rail stations in New York and New Jersey, on several MTA bus lines in New York City, on select NJ TRANSIT bus routes in northern New Jersey and at Newark Liberty AirTrain Station in New Jersey.

In addition to subway, trains and buses, more than 10,000 New York City cabs have already installed state-of-the-art Visa payWave terminals enabling tourists and locals to pay by simply waving their phone or card in front of terminals found in the back seat of the cab.

Take a look at the video below for more information...


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