Simple Location Based Service idea
I’m an avid public transportation user: train, bus, tube, … The only thing I hate is waiting too long for a train to come, or missing a train because you were seconds late.
This could be solved by a simple location based service. (I’m not completely sure, but I think both Mobistar and Proximus are already providing these kind of services, correct?) When you come close to a train station, say like in a range of 200m / 600m (you should be able to adjust this yourself). The service detects you are nearing a train station and simply sends you a message with the schedule for trains going to your home station. So a 100% push medium, which is triggered by your location. I wouldn’t mind paying like 50 cents per message, because it adds value. It let’s me know if I need to start running or can go grab a bite before catching my train.
But since the nmbs (belgium railway company) doesn’t even provide a mobile site. I’m guessing it’s going to take a while before seeing this kind of services …
I talked about this before, but if the NMBS would open up it’s train schedule database, a whole new range of services can exist:
- more services for the people who travel with the train, you make their lifes easier
- an extra business model if you charge for commercial use of the web service
- build an ecosystem around the brand NMBS
Really, somebody should wake them up … we live in the year 2008, not 1998. Damnit !!
9 Comments
But it would be a good step to just sms the usual train schedule to you. And don't take late trains into account in the first step.
Jesse
Missed far too many trains like that.
Also, you should be warned when the train is delayed, and maybe you can still catch a previous train, which is sometimes the advantage of trains being late, and me being late as well :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bartclaeys/2639202...
But your idea is obvious and will find its way sooner or later.
That shouldn't be to hard I guess ??
Stupid idea, but if their was a webcam in every station filming the in-station tv-screens (the one's where you can see your delay) I would actually use that!
On your idea: I'd rather have a good app on my mobile then a text message, because I want to choose when I want the info!
Anyway, well done!
I want it to be a text message, because you're mainly on the move, running to the station. So a text message is a very easy way to get that info pushed to you.
J
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