A GLASGOW IT firm is set to revolutionise the airport check-in process.

Real Time Engineering has developed a system where boarding passes are sent straight to passengers' mobiles.

The firm has joined forces with Edinburgh communications firm Mobiqa to launch RT-mobi-ticket.

The system sends boarding pass information by text to passengers on their mobile phone, PDA or Blackberry.

It encodes a passenger's details into a barcode which can then be read directly from systems already installed in airports to read "print-at-home" boarding cards.

The new system would take away the headache of trying to find a printer for people who have checked in online from the laptop or at a hotel.

Alastair Deacon, Real Time's technology manager, said: "The launch of RT-mobi-ticket ensures passengers always have their boarding passes available.

"It also provides airlines with opportunities to enhance the passenger service through mobile updates, or to generate additional revenue from premium check-in services."

Real Time, based in Dumbreck, is run by Glasgow University graduate Gerry Docherty.

The firm has a long history of working with airlines and the aviation industry to develop IT systems.

It has developed a boarding card scanning machine which is installed at a number of airports across Europe, and already works with BAA and British Airways on other systems.

Together with management from Mobiqa, Real Time will be presenting the new concept at an airline convention in Barcelona later this month.

Iain McCready of Mobiqa, said: "We're excited to be partnered with Real Time to deliver this technology to the aviation sector.

"Virtual ticketing technologies are already being used extensively in the rail transport and live events sectors and their use within the aviation sector is the next logical step.

"The standardisation on barcodes within the airline industry makes it ideal for this technology".

Changing technology is expanding the range of services offered by mobile phone companies.

In the US, a service called MobileLime enables people to pay for their taxi journey home using just their mobile.

Meanwhile, the East Japan Railway Company has trialled a system which will allow commuters to use their mobile at ticket barriers.

And Fujitsu has even developed a phone with a built-in chip that can be charged with up to 50,000 yen (£250) of cash.

The phone is waved over a panel to pay for goods.