All subway lines in Beijing open for mobile metro card

A Beijing resident uses a mobile phone on the subway, June 25, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Commuters can ditch their metro card and use electronic one on their phones to pass through the subway lines in Beijing from Aug 14.

Beijing subway officially launched the full service on all lines after a trial service on a line in suburb area in June.

About 160 brands of mobile phones featuring NFC (Near Field Communication) are compatible. Commuters can purchase the electronic metro card on their phone without deposit.

Although iPhone users cannot join the mobile metro card club as Apple Inc hasn't unlocked its NFC feature in public commuting in China.

According to the company issuing metro cards, it sold 200,000 electronic cards in one trial month since it's easy to open accounts and topping up.

About 200,000 mobile commute payments are made each day, two percent of the total daily payment.

Beijing subway system has upped its internet service to ease the pressure on commuters and provide better service.

The mobile metro cards do not need internet connection during use but they do need internet access during credit purchase.