I recently joined City Car Club, a sort of a hybrid of a co-ownership and car rental agency. The idea is that you join the club, pay a small monthly fee and basically get the kind of car you need delivered near you whenever you need it, paying reasonable rates for only what you use. The service is awesome for people like us who don’t really need to own a car but still occasionally need a car. Not to mention it’s ecologically much better than everyone having their own car.
So how does this have anything to do with a mobile service? Well, it’s a mobile service at least in the wider interpretation of the term because it wouldn’t have been possible (or would’ve been vastly more difficult) without mobile phones. Another great thing is that it uses such basic enablers like voice calls and SMS that it works from any phone.
Here’s how:
1) Reserve the car you want on the net and choose which pickup point you want to use. One hour before the start of the reservation, you get the car details – like the license plate # – as an SMS.
2) Walk up to the car and call the automated reservation start number; punch in your PIN code and the numerical part of the car’s license plate. In 10 seconds, the doors will automagically open.
3) Step in and drive away. The keys are in the car and off you go.
4) Return the car to the designated spot, call the end number, press #, doors will lock in 10 seconds and you’re done.
Why is this so great? There is no need for anyone to be there when you pick up or return the car, saving operating costs. It’s very convenient and fast for the users. Lots of things are automated, again saving costs. And yet it relies on very basic technology.
(Btw, YTV travel card customers get a 150eur credit when joining CCC)
