GetMeThere App won’t open! #Manchester #Metrolink

GetMeThere App won’t open!

Got 4.3 Stars Ratings on IOS App Store

However, it does not show the total number of reviews.

Got only 1.7 Stars Rating on Android

It has 2,000 plus reviews to show that the App has problems connecting to the server.

Similar Problems reported on various forums

Have never had any problems before but this weekend it started refusing to open, not sure if its a problem with my phone (although it’s pretty new so shouldn’t be) Luckily the inspectors let me show my proof of purchase email instead.

Reddit

Possible Caused of the Problem

Getmethere App requires a server connection to obtain a ticket. When the server is busy or the Internet bandwidth is on high demand during peak hours when passengers go to work in the morning, the user may experience different problems such as with content is not loading or unable to open up the App.

More Andriod users reporting more problems than iPhone users simply because more people use Android phones than expensive iPhones nowadays.

Possibly Resolution

Public transportation for big cities like Manchester with tens of thousands of people using them every day. Speed is the utmost important parameter. The tickets on the Getmethere App should be stored off-line instead of on-line after purchased. The usage of a ticket should be deducted off-line to avoid dependence on the Internet connection and the availability of the server.

Like the Getmethere smart card, the value deduction and the validation are done off-line and therefore, there are not many complaints heard.

Getmethere App should look for mobile technologies which are an off-line based like Google Pay, Apple Pay, or some new technologies. To learn more, please visit mobileafc.net

‎Why Ventra App has 1.5 Stars rating on IOS Store? #Chicago

Why Ventra App rated 1.5* on IOS Store?

Worst app I’ve EVER used.

There was absolutely no thought made into the creation of this horrible app. First tickets are stored on your device, but you still need a connection to their servers to use those tickets. Why!? …

The app also asks for your password EVERYWHERE. …

Ventra App @ IOS Store, shareef777, 01/02/2019

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Ventra app is running again after an outage was reported Monday morning. Ventra is used by the CTA, Metra and by Pace.

Metra said the Ventra App is letting some people use the app, but not purchase tickets on the app.

Ventra said they were experiencing some backend issues with the app and that they apologize for the inconvenience.

Shortly after 10 a.m., Ventra said its app issue has been resolved.

Eyewitness News 7 , July 23, 2019

Possible Caused of the Problem

When you board your train, select “My Metra Tickets” in the Ventra App and tap the ticket you’d like to use. You’ll be prompted to confirm that you want to use your ticket. Then show your mobile ticket to the conductor when the conductor is checking for tickets. He or she will ask you to touch the screen; when you do the colors in the animation change. 

FAQ

Ventra App requires a server connection to obtain a ticket. When the server is busy or the Internet bandwidth is on high demand during peak hours when passengers go to work in the morning, the user may experience different problems particularly with content is not loading…

Possibly Resolution

Public transportation particularly for mega city like Chicago with millions of people using them every day. Speed is the utmost important parameter. The tickets on the Ventra App should be stored off-line instead of on-line after purchased. The usage of a ticket should be deducted off-line to avoid dependence on the Internet connection and the availability of the server.

Like the Ventra smart card, the value deduction and the validation are done off-line and therefore, there have been no major complaints.

Ventra App should look for mobile technologies which are an off-line based like Google Pay, Apple Pay, or some new technologies. To learn more, please visit mobileafc.net

Most AFC system suppliers don’t understand off-line technologies

What they are really supplying is merely a sophisticated and expensive online system with integration of the following features:

  • Terminal devices with network 3G/4G capability
  • Key security with security access module (SAM)
  • Smart Card with high security and durability
  • Fully integrated system with backup facilities
  • Interoperability with different card system
  • High availability server system
  • Sophisticated clearing center
  • Sophisticated reporting

They simply assume that network is always available and terminal devices will always able to send data back to the server.

No system suppliers mention how to handle transaction record lost due to terminal device failure.

Transaction between card and terminal is done in real time, but the transaction record is sent to server in a delay manner.

There is a chance of losing record due to device failure even in a fraction of a second.

iBonus ® AFC system assumes network is NOT always available

Our server manages the sequence of delayed transaction records and can fill the holes.

Our server handles the security of the card by monitoring abnormality.

It is a true off-line based system and is cost effective.

Our systems used by US Army and UN World Food Program survived even in the harsh environment in countries like Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq where network or Internet is not always available.

New York City public transportation fare collection system lags behind third world countries.

New York City public transportation fare collection system lags behind third world countries.

Hillary Clinton, who had to swipe 5 times in a row to enter the subway in New York City during her presidential campaign in 2016.

MetroCard System

One of the greatest symbols of the outdated system is the MetroCard — the flimsy fare card that was introduced a quarter-century ago.

Plans to replace the MetroCard over the last decade have been mired in delays — and costs have soared — even as other cities adopted more durable tap cards. Washington’s subway introduced its SmarTrip card two decades ago, and Hong Kong has the Octopus card 30 years ago.

OMNY System

OMNY is being put in place by Cubic, a payments company behind the MetroCard and that oversaw London’s fare system. The project is expected to cost about $644 million — $200 million more than what the authority estimated in 2016.

The agency will offer a physical OMNY card in 2021, and the MetroCard will meet its demise in 2023. Subway officials say there will always be a cash option for New Yorkers who do not have bank cards or smartphones.

The idea has progressed in fits and starts. A decade ago, the authority’s chairman, Jay Walder, had wanted to bring “tap-and-go” cards to New York after he implemented the Oyster card in London. Officials wanted to phase out the MetroCard as early as 2012, but it did not happen, in part because credit card companies were slow to make their cards compatible.

The conclusion

New York City does not learn the financial model which Hong Kong adopted more than 30 years ago and the Octopus Card in Hong Kong is the most success cashless payment from public transportation to the retail market.

It is very important to understand the relationship among all stakeholders in the automatic fare collection system. It is so obvious that the biggest winner for the new OMNY system is the credit card issuers because they will earn the transaction fee without investment and the biggest loser is the New York City government who has to pay US$ 644 million without any financial benefits at all.

The writer has over 19 years of experience in the related industry. To learn more about the latest mobile technology for automatic fare collection system, please visit http://mobileafc.net