In November, Amtrak began allowing riders on its Downeaster line, which runs between Massachusetts and Maine, to download tickets to their phones, then show the screens to a conductor, who scans them with a mobile device.
Once users have purchased their seats, the app allows them to easily download tickets to their mobile phones in a way that can be scanned at the gate rather than printed at home.
The hope is that downloads, ticket sales, merchandise and ring tones will make up the difference, but what we're hearing is that very little incremental revenue is being made from these other revenue sources.
Ask a local hero to donate part of downloads, ticket sales or merchandise.
To increase bandwidth, begin downloading Tickets to Optimistic Hip-Hop Musical now.
Imeem says they're refocusing their efforts on additional revenue streams, such as paid downloads, tickets and ring tones.
HOW TO GET TICKETS -- Go to www.sacsports.com, and click on the link to download a ticket application, or call (916) 566-6560.
Another option is to write to the Vatican: go to the Web site Vatican.va, choose your language, click on the "Prefecture of the Papal Household" link and then download the ticket request form, which you must fill out and mail (not e-mail) or fax.
You can download your ticket as a PDF and print multiple copies if you wanted and there's nothing to prevent you from doing that today.
Although not the first of its kind (in fact there are similar programs operating at 29 other U.S. airports, and in Europe), the newly announced paperless boarding pass system at San Francisco International Airport allows passengers to download their "ticket" onto their mobile device, be it a cell phone or PDA, by visiting a secure link that is e-mailed to them after booking a flight.
