Smartphone on the tube

[Tubeular]

Help! I'm researching an app I want to make for tube, train and bus commuters. If you use a smartphone or mobile device on one of these, I'd hugely appreciate your help. Just 10 quick questions! Thanks.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z7XK7RP

 

[jopsuk]

Even on surface parts of the underground (and overground) phone reception is often terrible. A limited number of stations have wifi. Any app requiring a data connection is unlikely to be of much use on the tube...

 

[GaryMcEwan]

If you had a UMA enabled smartphone, would you not then have a full signal? Seeing as the WiFi essentially provides you with full coverage?

 

[Deerfold]

If you had a UMA enabled smartphone, would you not then have a full signal? Seeing as the WiFi essentially provides you with full coverage?

Wifi only gives coverage at stations.

 

[user15681]

WiFi on the underground has always slightly stumped me. I can see the benefits from the internet, but I always find I'm never there long enough to fully utilise it. I am fully capable of walking along and using my phone at the same time, but in the peak it's just too busy to do so. Which leaves the only time to use it whilst you're on the escalator for about 30 seconds or standing on the platform, often for about just as long in the peak. When the train arrives at the next station, by the time it's connected and you've got onto a site, it leaves and you're disconnected again.

 

[Mojo]

WiFi on the underground has always slightly stumped me. I can see the benefits from the internet, but I always find I'm never there long enough to fully utilise it. I am fully capable of walking along and using my phone at the same time, but in the peak it's just too busy to do so. Which leaves the only time to use it whilst you're on the escalator for about 30 seconds or standing on the platform, often for about just as long in the peak. When the train arrives at the next station, by the time it's connected and you've got onto a site, it leaves and you're disconnected again.

I can't say I've found this issue myself. I find it's good for downloading emails or a web page (e.g. a thread on this forum) for reading between stations. Also handy for opening the realtime departure times to help you decide where (and how quickly) to change trains. It's also very useful and works well for sending and receiving messages (e.g. Apple iMessage or WhatsApp).

 

[Whistlekiller]

Even on surface parts of the underground (and overground) phone reception is often terrible. A limited number of stations have wifi. Any app requiring a data connection is unlikely to be of much use on the tube...

I use a couple of apps to help with travelling on the underground and they're very useful. In both cases there's no need for a constant signal or a requirement to keep your eyes glued to the screen at all times, so the lack of internet underground isn't really a problem.

I don't encounter many connection problems with my smartphone on the surface sections to be honest and I've covered most of the system in recent times.

Whatever, I wish the OP all the best in this research and development.

 

[user15681]

I can't say I've found this issue myself. I find it's good for downloading emails or a web page (e.g. a thread on this forum) for reading between stations. Also handy for opening the realtime departure times to help you decide where (and how quickly) to change trains. It's also very useful and works well for sending and receiving messages (e.g. Apple iMessage or WhatsApp).

Oh I'd agree it works well for some, and I can sometimes use it for realtime info, just sometimes I don't spend long enough within the station to fully use it.

 

[Tubeular]

Whatever, I wish the OP all the best in this research and development. [/QUOTE]

Many thanks, I'll keep you posted when it launches!

 

[Tetchytyke]

It depends what you're doing, the Guardian app on my phone downloads all the content in one go, allowing you to read between stations. It helps that I'm commuting on the Northern Line, and usually have five minutes to wait for a train.

 

[futureA]

I use wifi on the tube all the time.