Optus Mobile launches traffic information service - UPDATED

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 09 September 2010 17:26

Your IT - Mobility

Four years after announcing its first trials and one year after an earlier announced 'launch', Optus has launched Optus Trafficview, a national road traffic information service designed to deliver a real-time view of traffic conditions by using live data collected from the Optus mobile network.

Mark Mulder, head of digital products, Optus Digital Media, said: "The service analyses a combination of Optus 2G and 3G mobile data, looking at how fast or slow our customers are moving over time and then comparing this information to road networks."

The service uses a technology called Cellular Floating Vehicle Data (CFVD) to generate traffic information by anonymously processing vehicle data information from the Optus mobile network.

The technology comes from UK based ITIS Holdings which announced in November 2006 that it was being trialled by Optus.  "This project has been initiated and managed by Traffic Intelligence Pty, the exclusive licensee of ITIS' CFVD technology in Australia," the company said.

In July 2009  ITIS Holdings issued a press release saying it was "pleased to announce, together with their local licensee Traffic Intelligence and cellular operator … [Optus] the commercial launch of the first nationwide traffic information system in Australia to use Cellular Floating Vehicle Data (CFVD). Covering over 70,000 km of roadway, the system will be branded Optus Traffic View (OTV) and has been available since June 2009."

Optus told iTWire: "the service launched last year was not a consumer service but a data service aimed at organisations such as the road traffic authorities."

Optus mobile customers can go to http://trafficview.optuszoo.com.au and register to receive SMS traffic alerts - up to 1,000 SMS alerts monthly on up to 30 saved journeys - or check online for real-time traffic updates and the best alternative routes. They can also elect to receive SMS incident alerts if their usual journey time is expected to take longer than the standard drive time.

The can also view traffic incidents, see bottlenecks and assess traffic flow via a real-time map. "Using live-data feeds, Trafficview advises changes en-route and offers alternate travel routes to help customers get to their destination faster," Optus says.

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