Next bus stop? Check on your mobile phone

By January-end, when travelling in a public bus you can get information on the next bus stop and traffic status on your cellphone, via bluetooth, reports Shashank Rao.

By January-end, when travelling in a public bus you can get information on the next bus stop and traffic status on your cellphone, via bluetooth.

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The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has decided to install bluetooth devices inside regular and air-conditioned King long buses.

So when passengers switch on the bluetooth on their cellphone they can get information such as the next bus stop, estimated time of arrival, destination of the bus, traffic status and other buses on the same route — for free. (See box, How it will work)

The cost of installing the service, called Mobileji, is Rs 1 lakh per bus and will be borne by the private contractor.

“Once connected, live data will be available on the passengers’ phones using bluetooth, GPRS and SMS free of cost,” said BEST chairman, Dilip Patel.

“We will start this service in a phased manner by January-end with 25 buses. We will gradually install the device in three buses every day,” said a senior BEST official, requesting anonymity for lack of authorisation to speak with the media.

The LCDs, that will be connected to the bluetooth device, will display advertisements, and also discount offers at shopping malls and shops when the bus passes through the areas.

“Commuters can download information of such offers on their mobile handsets, but at a cost,” said a BEST official.