Are you still queuing to buy metro tickets? Try your cell phone. No kidding, Guangzhou Metro launched yesterday a "Cell Phone Paying Service", which enables passengers to pay the drive fare directly from their cell phone accounts with no need to buy tickets in this South China city.

Vice Mayor of Guangzhou Xu Zhibiao (R) pays his metro fare by cell phone at the Gongyuan Qian metro station in Guangzhou on July 17. (Guangzhou Daily)

This system is the first ever of its kind in China, featuring high-tech and simple convenience.

A cell phone in service is supposed to instantly "beep" to pay when it is put above the charging zone on the gateway device, just as a popular paying IC Card, "Yang Cheng Tong" (Ñò³Çͨ), works. All passengers paying by cell phones can enjoy a 5% discount.

The key to this service is a special paying SIM card installed in a cell phone. The service is currently only available for China Mobile's Gotone users. Those who are interested can go to the China Mobile's outlets to buy or change to the SIM cards.

A metro staff member demonstrates the ticketing by cell phone at the Gongyuan Qian metro station in Guangzhou on July 17. (Guangzhou Daily)

In the near future, it will be put into operation in all public transport services.

It is believed that this cell-phone paying service will greatly facilitate the public in traveling.