Design vs Art Blog

In June we heard about a release date on September 2007. OK, September is here an we don’t have news. More or less… We know there are gonna be multiple carriers in Europe: T-Mobile in Germany, O2 in the UK and Orange in France.

Last news say that on 13 September some kind of integration between the iPhone and the new series of BMW cars will be announce at the Frankfurt Auto Show. But what kind of integration? nobody knows. But I would like to hear an iPhone release date for Europe coming from the Auto Show.

So far we can have a look at the iPhone at Gravis stores in Germany, or at least at the one in Munich (Tal 38, Muenchen). But don’t get too excited, they have it inside a glass box, you can not touch it shaaaame.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The German Trains (Deutsche Bahn) is looking for test users for a new system that will allow users to travel without a paper ticket. The idea is really cool (although is neither revolutionary nor new, people have been using this system in Japan for some time).

How it will work?
Pass your mobile phone through “Touchpoints” before taking the train, pass it again when your are at your destination and get the invoice later. The system will recognize your mobile thanks to a chip your telephone has (or will have).

Picture from Die Bahn AG

Touch and Trick?
I wonder if it would be possible to check prices before traveling. What if the price changes? What if I want to use a regional ticket? (those tickets with discount). Now I can buy a ticket to go to the Alps, come back to Munich and use the same ticket for the city transport. Would that be possible? Will the system choose the cheapest option for me? mmm…

Although I have my doubts about this system I think it might be worth to have a try. And if it works fine it could promote the use of mobile applications, yeah! I would love to try it but unfortunately is available only in north Germany… shame…

More info: http://www.touchandtravel.de

Popularity: 12% [?]