© ABC News/Malcolm Sutton SA's Transport Department has begun looking for an operator to trial tap-and-go payments. A trial using smartphones to pay for public transport in South Australia could begin within months.



The state's Transport Department has begun looking for an operator to trial tap-and-go payments before rolling it out across train, tram and bus services.

The plan would see passengers tap their mobile phones as they board services.

A similar trial has begun in New South Wales and mobile phones are already being used to buy tickets in the UK and Germany.

Travellers in the state currently buy paper tickets or can use plastic Metrocards passes.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said he hoped the initiative would prove to be secure and reliable.

"We think this will be one more convenient option for people to pay for public transport, perhaps if they don't want to use cash or if they haven't got their Adelaide Metrocard with them," Mr Mullighan said.

He said the security of payments needed to be assured before it was rolled out.

"You should also always keep your personal belongings safe and secure around you.

"This would be the same warning that we would send out if people start using this technology on public transport."

The Government hopes smartphone fare payments will begin by the end of next year