Movie fans know that when a really popular movie hits theaters it can often be difficult to obtain tickets. When Avatar was in theaters, there were long lines and many found that tickets for showings were sold out days in advance. Some learned that the best way to check ticket availability was with services like Fandango.

Fandango has taken its existing mobile service where you can find tickets at your local theater online or on your mobile phone and buy them with a credit card one step further. Most theaters still manually print tickets purchased on Fandango and some require you to bring a print out in with a barcode proving the tickets are yours and stop at the ticket counter.

Fandango has unveiled new mobile ticket program in eight markets around the country. The new program lets the user pay for the tickets on the mobile device and gives them a barcode right on the phone screen that the moviegoer can take directly to the person taking tickets. The ticket person can scan the barcode and the user never has to wait in line at the box office or kiosk to buy a ticket.

Right now, the service is in trial in New York, New Jersey, Houston, Dallas/Plano, San Diego, Bakersfield, Sonoma County, and Hawaii. Fandango reports that the mobile ticket service works with most carriers and doesn't require a smartphone. In all the program is currently being used at over 100 screens in the cities mentioned that are part of the Reading Cinemas network.

"We've already seen success in the mobile space with our variety of apps for the iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Palm and others," says Rick Butler, Chief Operating Officer of Fandango. "We know that Mobile Ticket will be one more Fandango convenience that moviegoers will enjoy. Our cell phones are with us all the time - so what better way to ensure you have your movie ticket?"