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New Jersey Transit Accepting Google Wallet For Fare Payment

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - New Jersey Transit is getting together with Google -- but it's for speed, not for search.

Some NJT riders now will be able to buy tickets with Google Wallet.

"What it will allow is for our customers to use their smartphones to be able to scan that right on our ticket vending machines as well as on our bus lines."

New Jersey Transit spokesman John Durso Jr. says it's up and running on the Northeast Corridor and Jersey Coast train lines -- but it only works at ticket machines and windows at Penn Station in New York and at the Newark airport.

And it's only on one smartphone and one network right now: the Samsung Nexus 4G on Sprint.

It uses Near Field Communication technology to securely store and transmit credit card details.  Durso says you tap a reader with your cell, and the bill is settled.

"This is about giving our customers options, choices, and new means to move on a more efficient and a more rapid basis through their daily commutes."

The hope is that Google will sign up more proivders so it will make sense for other transit agencies -- and their customers -- to get on board.

Reported by Ian Bush, KYW Newsradio

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