Net savvy Adelaide bus commuters get free Wi-Fi
- 27 August, 2009 11:33
- Comments 11
Bus riders in Adelaide will be given the option to surf the Internet during their trip with the launch of a free Wi-Fi trial.
The i-Commute trial is being deployed by a group of organisations, including Adam Internet, UniSA, MIMP, Cisco, WebShield and TransSpot, and aims to lure more people into using public transport.
i-Commute uses the locally-developed Podmo platform that allows commuters to use their phone or Wi-Fi enabled device to browse the Web, download and play games, chat, and use other Internet applications.
The development is another wireless win for Adelaide, which is getting a new WiMax network to fill broadband blackspots.
In its role as the i-Commute mobile platform partner, Podmo has provided a free-to-access mobile network for Adelaide buses.
Podmo CEO, Che Metcalfe, said being able to access Internet applications for free makes morning and evening commutes “more useful and a lot more fun”.
“We’re not just helping reduce the commuter’s carbon foot-print, we’re helping reduce traffic accidents and fines. A lot of people try to use their mobiles while driving - even texting and driving at the same time is not uncommon," Metcalfe said.
The Podmo mobile application allows people to download mobile content to a phone without paying for data as it is transferred over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
“Once connected to the network users can download all forms of content, browse pages, read the news and weather or communicate with each other via text or voice,” Metcalfe said.
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Comments
Wendy Hudson
I feel quite insulted by this proposal. As far as I am concerned, what would make me happy is getting busses to run on time. I commute weekdays from Fairview Park into the city to work and I doubt that my 'guaranteed' 15 minute service is ever on time on the homeward journey each night. Please, I do not exagerate, and I have given up complaining direct to the company. All the 542 passengers are frustrated and we try to joke off our frustration and anger.
So please do not insult me with incentives - just provide the service you are paid to do.
Jake from Sydney
This is an awesome idea!! I hope they roll this out in Sydney sometime - I would always catch a bus then.
City Living
If you want a 15 minute commute live closer to where you work.
Payne Fuliobvious
This is just great. We cant get anything faster than a 28.8 dial up at home (pair gain) and have given up altogether, now I need to battle self important pillocks who will now just HAVE to whip out the laptop and inconvenience others with their stuff strewn everywhere on overcrowded buses. How about making sure we can get useable internet at home where families need it rather than on a 20 minute bus ride.
Liam
I doubt this would be enticing anyone to use public transport. It's inconvenient to whip out a laptop on a crowded bus (especially if you are one of the standing passengers!). If it's mobile phone internet access, its quite useless as businesses have their own blackberry email/internet access plans that would cover any productive use of the service, so then it's just for gimmicky pay-for-use games/ringtones/facebook rubbish or to pump more advertisements into us. Hardly a beneficial service.
Justin
Yea maybe business people already have their blackberries and data plans, but I think this will be big with students. I know that I'd use it. facebook, google maps, browsing, emailing, downloading etc. It's a very cool gesture. You know the busses do their best to be on time right? It's not like they are late deliberately, crap happens on roads, traffic can be unpredictable, anyone can attest to that.
Anonymous
On long trips the service would be great it would remove the tedium of the journey. I believe the bus goes as far south as Aldinga and as far north as Smithfield so you are talking 1 Hr + journeys If its free bring it on
Anonymous
Try and drive a car and take the same time each day -imagine what it is like in a bus!!! I think on the whole the Adelaide Public Transport is reasonable and reasonably priced. Try Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane and you will appreciate what we have got.
John
Yawn. Look up Icomera, who recently bought out Moovera. They have had an end to end mobile ISP system operational for years on trains, buses and ferries in the UK and Europe for many years. A free 3 month trial on several buses was conducted by Star-Tech Communications over a year ago using Icomera/Moovera technology on Sydney's Westbus fleet on the busy M2 route. Telstra 3G was used for the backhaul. It was taken away after the trial because no bus operators wanted it - near sighted idiots. The service was very well received, and ahead of its time. This new trial is several years late.
Che
Icomera does not do what Podmo, the mobile component of this project does.
Podmo is providing Bluetooth connectivity to mobile phones on the bus. The system detects devices as they enter the bus and sends the Podmo client to the passenger over Bluetooth. Once installed the Podmo client connects via Bluetooth and the user can browse/download all types of content and communicate for free.
figasia
Thanks i-commute, cant wait to hop on a bus with iphone Hope it stays FREE!
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