Netflix and Drive: A New Finnish App Promises to Transform Transportation
Imagine paying one flat fee per month to access an unlimited amount of public transportation options. Finding a seamless combination of taxi, metro, and ride share for a single trip could be as convenient as selecting a few movies on Netflix.
A new Finnish app called Whim aims to do just that. The firm that created the app, MaaS Global, will release the app in Singapore later this year or early next year.
The app had a previous release in June 2016, in Helsinki. It’s based on a “mobility- as-a-service” model, which should help streamline the process for transportation workers as well as transportation users.
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The firm’s short-term goal for the app is to release it in two additional cities by the end of this year: Birmingham in the UK and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The five-year strategy for the app is for it to reach 60 cities.
Anne Berner, Finland’s Transport and Communications Minister, articulates the strategy of this app and other initiatives in the country that are helping advanced public transportation: “Digital disruption is not just about technology, it’s about changing processes and changing behavior.”
If Whim catches on, this could open the door for vehicle ownership and an increase in commuters in cities.
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News Source: Straits Times
Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. See more articles by Whitney.