Dutch Rail Launches Mobile Travel Application Based on Context-Aware Technology

Utrecht, Holland - 19 March 2009 – Appear, Service2Media and Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the National Dutch Rail Authority, today announced the launch of Reisplanner Xtra, the first implementation of wireless context-aware services for Dutch train travelers. 
 
“The growing market penetration of smartphones opens up new possibilities for bringing a better service to our travelers” says Corine van Drunen, Innovation Manager, NS. “We believe Reisplanner Xtra will be the mobile channel of the future for Nederlandse Spoorwegen.” 
 
Today, as mobile technology becomes pervasive, public transport operators are no longer focusing exclusively on the physical transfer of passengers from point A to point B. They are striving to provide a complete transportation experience, including real-time access to travel-related information. The mobile device becomes an extension of the travel experience, where travel information is at the heart of mobile service. A detailed understanding of the user situation - also known as context - allows Reisplanner Xtra to offer the right information to the right user, at the right time and at the right place. 

 
Reisplanner Xtra is a unique mobile travel application.It uses current location information (from GPS or cell ID) to automatically determine the nearest station. It offers customised services based on user context, records favorite journeys, preferred or recently visited stations, displays information regarding the station and local points of interest, and can even let you share your travel plans with friends and family. Reisplanner Xtra also monitors possible changes to your planned journey and alerts you to these changes by SMS. 
 
“A personal travel planner that advises you during the trip is one of the most relevant services on mobile. New context-aware functionalities will be further extended based on the Appear IQ and Service2Media M2Active platform components” says Geert Kolthof, CEO, Service2Media. “More important than the network itself, be it 3G, Wi-Fi or others, however, are the value-added services available on the network”, adds Xavier Aubry, CEO, Appear. “In the future, what will you do when your train is 15 minute late? Use your mobile device to check the services available in that station, perhaps download the latest news report or your favorite magazine, courtesy of the train operator, while your calendar automatically sends an update to the person you are supposed to meet, based on real-time traffic information. Upon arrival at your destination, your device will automatically request a map of the area to quickly find the location of your next meeting.”
 
With Reisplanner Xtra, NS’ vision of “travel time becomes your own time” becomes a reality, where urban digital travelers can use their travel to access a large range of mobile services in order to save time or spend time.
 
The two new customer services, the application Reisplanner Xtra and the SMS-based service “SMS Reisplanner” for older devices to get travel information, can be reached here: (in Dutch) http://www.ns.nl/cs/Satellite/reizigers/plan-uw-reis/reisinfo-onderweg 
and instructions are located here: (in Dutch)
http://www.ns.nl/cs/Satellite/reizigers/plan-uw-reis/reisinfo-onderweg/reisinfoextra
 
About Appear:
Appear is the leading provider of context-aware software infrastructure designed to power the next generation of mobile applications and services. Using situational information (context), the AppearIQ suite of products transforms ordinary wireless data networks into rich multimedia channels that deliver information, voice, video and messages to mobile computer users. By collecting and sharing context, Appear’s solutions eliminate information overload and ensure users have exactly the information they need, when and where they need it. Industry leaders in transportation, retail, telecommunications and government use AppearIQ. Appear has an extensive partner network including industry leaders Cisco, Motorola, Orange Business Services, SITA, Thales Logica and Service2Media in order to deliver innovative, end-to-end wireless and mobile solutions. The company is privately held and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and with offices across Europe. Please visit www.appearnetworks.com for more information.
 
About Service2Media:
Service2Media empowers life on the move by creating interactive mobile services directed to communities, media and travel. Service2Media’s service platform M2Active offers companies a way to directly interact with their customers via a mobile application on a wide variety of mobile devices and the web. Customers besides NS are e.g. Hyves, CNN, Telegraaf, KPN, RTL and Rabobank. Service2Media is a Dutch company with its international office in the UK. For more information, please visit www.service2media.com
 
About Nederlandse Spoorwegen: NS is one of the world’s busiest rail systems with 25,000 employees operating over one million passenger journeys every day. NS has the ambition to be one of Europe’s most reliable and customer friendly suppliers of passenger rail transportation, and is currently operating over 385 full service rail stations throughout the Netherlands and running approximately 5000 train journeys every day. For more information, please visit NS at http://www.ns.nl

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