UK provider Vodafone is allowing its subscribers to pay for a ride in London’s black cabs by sending a text message to a certain number. They need to include the cab’s license number in the message, and the fare is charged to their phone bill. At the same time, about 500 branded cabs will be equipped with chargers for popular phones, including iPhones and BlackBerry devices.
The steps are paid for by part of a £1 million (about $1.65 million) advertising campaign Vodafone started to tout the improvements to its network coverage in London. The payment method may not be as foolproof or advanced as NFC payments, but it does add convenience. How cab drivers ensure payment gets sent isn’t known.
