Toronto’s AutoShare Now Available on Smartphones
AutoShare has listened to their smartphone using members and finally rolled out (pun intended) a mobile reservation system. Members now have the ability to reserve a vehicle using their blackberry or other smartphone. The mobile version of the website is surprisingly comprehensive.
Users can log in with their member number and password, then choose to view any new messages or reserve a vehicle. The reservation system will default to your favourite vehicle(s) – previously specified on PC during the account set-up process. How?
Users/Members have several options when reserving a vehicle including the choosing of a specific type of vehicle. Say you need a van. Click on “Select Vehicle Type” and user is directed to a list of vehicles. Then check off Cargo Van, then click Select and Search tab at the bottom of the screen. The results will show you where all the available vans are. Additionally members can select to reserve a vehicle based on the amenities it has. You can choose a vehicle that allows pets, for instance, if you happen to be travelling with your dog. Be sure to browse the reservation system for all options.
The best feature of all, has to be the ability to search for a vehicle close to your location. You don’t know how many times I’ve been in the middle of the city and suddenly needed a vehicle. Being an autoshare member with access to their mobile reservation website now makes it easy. From a Blackberry or smartphone device the user can search for the closest (available) vehicle by entering a location – address or crossroads – and the system will provide a list of vehicles closest to that location. Clicking on a listed vehicle will direct you to a page which provides information about the vehicle (type, amenities, restrictions) as well as a Google Map of it’s location.
Once the user has chosen a vehicle it is simply a matter of choosing a start date/time and a return date/time. Then a simple few clicks later the reservation is made, provided the vehicle is available for the entire duration you chose.
Business and consumer members of autoshare can now plan meetings or events on the go, and quickly check/reserve an available vehicle to transport them without having to be tied down to a PC. The user also has the option of going back and viewing furture reservations details at a later time.
Autoshare members can set-up in advance some preferences such as email or sms confirmations of reservations as well as the new integration with google calendar so that you can view advance reservations on your Blackberry Calendar after a sync (my favourite feature yet).
Current members of the Toronto car-sharing service are already familiar with the PC reservations system, but this is a very big step in the right direction. I am confident that the company will see an increase in reservations by their current memberships alone, just based on the ease and availability of a mobile web application. Below are some screenshots of the system. Click on the thumbnail for full-size!
If you are already a member use your smartphone browser to connect to toronto.autoshare.net/m
About Autoshare:
AutoShare members get 24-hour, self-serve access to clean, modern cars and vans – at over 100 locations across the city – without the hassles, costs and headaches of ownership. Rent by the hour, when you need to. AutoShare is also great for companies, NGO’s and Government departments that need cars and minivans – and want to save money. Toronto’s favourite car alternative, since 1998.
100% Canadian & locally-owned.
[...] of our product we decided to create them as web applications and not native ones. I just received a link to an independent review of the Blackberry version of the site. It is very [...]
Gives Me A Little Boost « The ponderings of a ponderer said this on March 14, 2009 at 12:22 |
“Users can log in with their member number and password…”
Well, I’m thoroughly confused. When I go to the address you have provided, I’m asked for a Username (not a member number). I don’t have a Username and there are no instructions for obtaining a Username. Using my member number/password does not work. There are absolutely no instructions on the AutoShare website concerning this. Any ideas what’s wrong?
Exactly as the article says, enter your member number (in the username box) and then your password (same as the one you use to log on PC). Check to make sure you’re entering numbers in the username box as I do not believe this is automatic.
Note that I’ve only tested the site with a Blackberry. The site is designed for smartphones and may not render properly with just any cellphone equipped with a wap browser.
Good Luck.
You should make the following fix to the Username field (aside from changing it to say “Member Number” to avoid confusion – unless you consider Names and Numbers to be the same?). Currently it will not recognize any Member Numbers which begins with “0″. Traditionally, I have always been able to log-in to the website using the leading “0″ of my Member Number, but the smartphone portal will not allow this – this is what was giving me the log-in error. Once I entered my Member Number without the leading “0″ it allowed me in.
Ok, well I’m just a blogger. I simply wrote a review of the site. I didn’t create it.
I’m sure you can find the feedback link for the Autoshare website on your own.
My apologies, Tony. I was under the impression you were/had worked on the site, but I’ve found this isn’t true. I will contact Autoshare directly. Thanks.