A few weeks ago, we unveiled a prototype interface for getting TriMet arrival times via txt message.
This is just a quick update. The reply messages have been condensed based on your feedback. The typical message now looks like this:
Streetcar to SW Lowell and Bond: 2m,18m,34m; 15 Parkrose TC: 3m,17m
For each line at the stop, you get the line identifier, terminus and the times of the next few vehicles.
As a reminder you access this service by sending a text message to 415-676-8397 or sms@411sync.com with the following message text:
trimet <stop #>
Example:
trimet 2719
Keep giving us feedback!
7 responses to “txt 2”
Excellent!
Not that it matters, since cell phones don’t charge for long-distance text messages any more than local ones, but why do you need to text San Francisco to get Tri-Met’s arrival times? :-)
why do you need to text San Francisco to get Tri-Met’s arrival times?
They were the best gateway (combination of no extra cost to user and reasonable API) that I could find!
P.S. Some users are noting slow response times for the reply message. I’d like to hear how this is working for folks.
I tried at 4:30 pm and it responded as quickly as Google searches via SMS. Nice set up – small comment is it would be nice to have a line break between the time and the url above and the info line below.
I don’t know that there’s any standard for how the phone displays the text, so I don’t know how to create a line break.
Chris don’t phones use standard html line breaks?
Some phones might render a text message that way, but there’s nothing in the SMS spec that specifies HTML.
Very cool, I’m sure I’ll use it.
Thanks!