Montreal's Mobile Payment Push: A Step Forward, but iOS Users Still Wait

Montreal has taken a significant step towards a cashless transit system by allowing smartphone users to tap and go using the Chrono app. This development, part of the ARTM's Project Concerto, means riders can buy and store transit tickets on their phones and use them at STM turnstiles or bus readers. However, the feature is currently exclusive to Android users, with iOS users still waiting for their turn.

According to Sylvain Perras, the ARTM's executive director of digital transformation, the feature was built and tested with positive user feedback. The move aligns with the ARTM's goal of modernizing the ticketing system, as over half of all OPUS reloads are already done digitally. The agency is optimistic about expanding this feature to iOS devices in the future, but no launch date has been announced yet.

For digital nomads and expats like myself, Francesco Z, this development is a welcome convenience. However, the lack of iOS compatibility remains a drawback. If you're an iPhone user, keep an eye on updates from the ARTM, as they are actively working on bringing this feature to iOS.