People taking the subway in the Big Apple will find it easier with the use of their smartphones.
This year is off to a promising start for mobile commerce in New York City, where a new app has been created to help with some of the major changes that are happening to the public transportation system there.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority s releasing a helpful iOS app to assist riders with their trips.
It has been announced by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTS) that it is now going mobile with a brand new app designed for Apple device users such as iPhones. This lets those smartphone users who take one of seven train lines plan their trips in a way that is more detailed that has ever been made possible before.
This mobile commerce application from the MTS is meant to make a tremendous difference in the use of the system.
It is the first of its nature for the largest system of subway trains in the United States. The mobile commerce application uses data regarding the location of the trains to help to provide commuters with exceptionally specific and accurate details. This includes arrival times that are right up to the minute,
At the moment, this mobile commerce feature is available only on 7 out of the 24 total subway lines in New York City. However, many speculate that if this app proves to be popular and successful, then it will be expanded for use in the other lines, as well. This would likely be a gradual process.
The seven lines for which there is data through the mobile commerce app are “updated signals yoked to centralized computers able to transmit location and speed data for every train in motion,” said the Wall Street Journal.
This is precisely what is required to be able to obtain this type of information for a live mobile commerce app, but it has come with quite a price tag for the MTA. According to the authority, the new signals installation came with a cost of over $228 million, which will be stretched over a period of 11 years. The MTA also pointed out that an Android and Windows Phone edition of the application will also be released soon.
Mind Commerce publishes new report on mobile opportunities
Mind Commerce, a leading market research and consulting firm focused on the mobile sector, has released a new study concerning the development emerging in the mobile device market and the trends seen in smart phones and tablet computing. Mobile devices have become an integral part of the lives of consumers all over the world. As these devices become more advanced, consumers are relying on them more heavily in their daily lives. The Mind Commerce study aims to shed some light on the trends that are emerging in the mobile field and how companies and consumers are responding to these trends.
Study draws upon information from wide range of reports
The study, titled “Wireless/Mobile Devices and Applications: Solutions and Market Opportunities,” highlights numerous trends that exist in the mobile market. The study itself is comprised of a wide variety of reports coming from Mind Commerce itself, as well as other sources. The study focuses on several sectors within the overarching mobile space and identifies some of the emerging trends therein that may represent significant opportunities for companies.
Mobile gaming and marketing highlighted in study
One of the aspects of the mobile space covered in the Mind Commerce report is mobile gaming. Mobile gaming is quickly becoming an integral part of the mobile experience. Gaming applications represent a major source of entertainment for consumers, many of whom are willing to spend significant amounts of money to get the kind of games they are interested in. Beyond mobile gaming, mobile marketing is seeing new trends emerge in location-based services offered through social media platforms, such as Facebook and Foursquare.
Professionals could benefit from information contained in study
The study from Mind Commerce offers a variety of information concerning these trends, much of which is targeted toward mobile network operators, mobile application developers, infrastructure providers, and mobile device manufacturers. This information could help these parties develop better strategies to engage consumers around the world by taking advantage of the trends that are emerging in the mobile space.
