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What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

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Re: What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

#81

Post by Gud »

interactivecode wrote: post #28
marcyb5st wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More than that (which is an amazing feature, don't get me wrong) is the fact that there is a single app for every public transportation system in the country. Compare that to Italy/France/Spain (those that I know) where, depending where you are traveling to, you have to download, sign in, and give your credit card details to N different apps in different states of disrepair/being barely maintained. Virtual credit car…

In The Netherlands you just tap your card when you get in and when you get out. the fare is computed based on how many stops you went. No app needed. Supports all the virtual cards too like apple pay etc...

Frankly the Swiss system is far superior.

The Netherlands has a great train system except for the god damn turnstiles blocking the entrance to the train station.

They are not needed.

FWIW I live in Switzerland and work a lot in Netherlands.

Re: What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

#82

Post by Gud »

netfortius wrote: post #14
Nextgrid wrote: post #2

The Swiss public transport ticketing system. Their app uses location services to automatically determine your fare, so you don’t need to buy tickets in advance: https://www.sbb.ch/en/travel-information/apps/sbb-mobile/eas... . As a bonus there are no ticket barriers so no queues and no overheads of maintaining those machines.

Certain parts of France and Germany, that I know, use something similar for regional trains and buses: FAIRTIQ

It’s the same. FAIRTIQ is a Swiss company

Re: What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

#83

Post by wojciii »

preya2k wrote: post #6

Swiss/Danish/Finnish Mobile Payment alternatives like TWINT and MobilePay. Also: physical lockers with PIN/Code instead of keys (in basically every country aside from Germany). It's just completely bonkers to me, that German train station lockers still use physical Keys EVERYWHERE.

I use mobilepay when paying online. Its quicker than the credit card.

But the service is owned by the greedy banks so it will probably end with me abandoning it because it will get too expensive when they have enough users.

Re: What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

#84

Post by octo888 »

Gud wrote: post #80
octo888 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What an Orwellian nightmare. These systems require real-time GPS data. Just as buying a ticket with cash is becoming increasingly hard in parts of Europe, I can see a near future where having a phone sending constant GPS updates becomes a requirement (a requirement in an strict sense, or the sense that the alternative is unreasonably cumbersome or more expensive)

You don’t have to use this (awesome) system. You can buy tickets to the trains and trams everywhere.

I acknowledged that in my comment, and didn't claim otherwise

Re: What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

#86

Post by jjice »

trillic wrote: post #79
tdeck wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Vancouver does this too, at least on the SkyTrain. Very convenient when you're a visitor.

as does Chicago. Credit card or just any tap to pay card on your phone works tapping in and out.

Boston was the last major city I saw to actually add this in the US (every other major city metro I've seen has it). Boston got it last Spring or Summer if I recall. The MBTA is a nightmare, but at least I don't have to reload my Charlie Card anymore...

Re: What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

#87

Post by jjice »

Nextgrid wrote: post #2

The Swiss public transport ticketing system. Their app uses location services to automatically determine your fare, so you don’t need to buy tickets in advance: https://www.sbb.ch/en/travel-information/apps/sbb-mobile/eas... . As a bonus there are no ticket barriers so no queues and no overheads of maintaining those machines.

I'm a bit confused - how does this differ from something like The Tube in London where I tap on and tap off and it'll charge me based on the entry and exit points and whatever the appropriate "zone" travel I did was?

Re: What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

#88

Post by jjice »

ukoki wrote: post #15
ano-ther wrote: post #11

London and Stockholm: swipe your credit card for public transport. Great for visitors (I guess for residents a subscription will be cheaper)

In London contactless payment via credit/debit/Apple/Android has automatic daily and weekly caps https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/capping Depending on the frequency of travel, it can be cheaper to get season tickets though

New York's MTA does this as well. You just need to make sure it's the same card being used.

https://omny.info/fares

Re: What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

#89

Post by al_borland »

qwertfisch wrote: post #33
tyleo wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most mailboxes have a little plastic flag on a hinge you flip up to mark that you have outgoing mail. The process is is generally: 1. Remove all mail from the mailbox 2. Place outgoing mail in the mailbox 3. Raise the outgoing mail flag 4. Carrier will empty the box and file outgoing mail during the next delivery before putting new mail in the box Edit: here is a good example of a mailbox with that red flag https://w…

Wow, I always had the impression the red flag is set by the mail carrier to indicate for the house owner (particularly in rural areas) that new mail is inside the box. (Hence it would save the owner a trip for checking.) But this way around it makes a lot more sense.

Some mailboxes have an indicator that mail has arrived, but they aren't the norm. The indicator is raised by the action of opening the door, so the mail carrier doesn't have to do anything. It is on the person getting the mail to reset the indicator. This indicator is separate from the flag that signals the carrier that there is mail to pick up.

Re: What services or apps did you see abroad and wonder: why don't we have them?

#90

Post by dcminter »

iteria wrote: post #47
tintumon wrote: post #45

BankID (or Freja ID) in Sweden which makes login to almost everything a breeze. - Sweden’s national digital ID, run by banks - Used for login, payments, contracts, gov services - Legally binding like a handwritten signature

How does someone login via this system? I'm asking because it has the force of law. In that sense, I can't imagine that passwords alone would be enough.

Typically the website displays a QR code which you scan with the BankID app - the app prompts you to authenticate and you use a fingerprint or a 6 digit pin code to confirm.

The app has a certificate set up so if some rando has the app and shoulder surfed your pin they would not be able to login.

Establishing the app certificate initially on your device requires interaction with your bank account - via an existing BankID setup or a bank issued OTC dongle.

It works extremely well and allows for a lot of "joined-up" thinking. For example I can log in to various online pharmacies and see and refresh the prescription from my doctor (and from the vet for my cat). The ubiquitous Swish cash transfer app is authenticated by BankID.

Downsides:

It can be a nuisance for those moving here; before you get your state ID ("personal number") you can't get BankID and it's borderline impossible to get a bank account!

The app has a single owner and uses pinned certs so it's virtually impossible to do BankID on anything except an Android or iOS device. No Pine Phone for you unless you want to carry a second device for BankID.

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