Telecom company Orange Romania launched a payment system today ( January 30 ) that allows its customers to pay for one, two or ten metro trips by texting a message to 1700. The announcement came soon after competitor Vodafone Romania launched a similar system, also valid from January 30.

For one trip the customers will pay EUR 0.5, for two trips the cost is EUR 0.9  ( plus a 2c SMS tariff ), while for ten trips the price is EUR 2.20 ( with a 10c SMS ). Access in the metro station will then be granted by calling 1700 free of charge and placing the phone next to the ticket validation machines at turnstiles.

At first the service will be available at  the Gara de Nord, Victoriei, Universitate, Petrache Poenaru, Timpuri Noi, Grozavesti and Politehnica metro stops.

The service is also available to Vodafone customers, according to the company. People that want to pay just for one trip will have to text a message to 7477, at a cost of EUR 0.5  - excluding VAT, while those who want to pay for two trips will SMS 7492, for EUR 0.9 – without VAT. For ten trips, Vodafone customers can text a message to 7490, and will pay EUR 2.2 – excluding VAT. Read more about it here.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com