First Group, one of the UK's largest bus operators, is teaming up with Itso Transit Hub to bring mobile ticketing to its passengers through Google Pay.
A UK first for bus users, the technology lets passengers securely purchase, fulfil and use their Itso-compatible First Bus tickets on their Android handsets.
Integrated with mobile ticketing and data insights provider Corethree, the technology delivers tickets within seconds from the operator’s app directly into the passenger’s Google Pay digital wallet. The virtual ticket is then instantly recognised by onboard machines.
The system is already being trialed in Glasgow before being rolled out to more than 1.6 million passengers across the First Bus network.
Steve Wakeland, director, Itso Transit Hub, says: "Smartphones are central to our busy lives and giving bus passengers the option to use their phone as both ticket machine and ticket eliminates the need to carry a paper ticket or find the right cash to pay before boarding."