In Germany, WelectGo, a smartphone app, gives users free bus and train tickets in exchange for watching few Minutes ads on their smatrphones. A $2.80 ticket is delivered direct to their devices once they watch the ads. And these regular city traveling tickets remain valid for up to 90 minutes.
The app uses the ad revenue to buy the tickets it gives users at full price, once the day’s allotment of tickets is gone, it’s gone. It only signed up two sponsors, with 4 ads between them, and expected around 1,000 downloads of the app during the trial test.
How does the app work?
When a user sign up, WelectGo collects personal information—the name, gender, email address, and date of birth —and compiles them to give assembled data to the advertisers, and the advertisers can pick how many time a person can view each of their ads, which means you can’t just keep watching the same ads repeatedly throughout the day for free tickets.
When there are more ad spots available, passengers can choose the four required ads from the recommended list of 20.
The service has proved to be very popular and its initial success almost guarantees a steady flow of sponsorship deals.
Image: WelectGo
Expanding the Service and Challenges Ahead
WelectGo plans to expand the service to other German cities. Germany is particularly well-suited to this setup because of the proper transit system. As there are no ticket barriers, the whole process is being run on comprehensive enforced system, with proper inspection and staff boarding trains at random, checking tickets, and administering quick fines for people who are “traveling without tickets.”
However, it’s possible to travel without a ticket, and many people do just that late on weekend nights, when there is hardly any inspection.
One major problem with ad-supported travel: You get a seat on a bus or train without a ticket, and “purchase” it on board by using service like the WelectGo app. The situation could get worse if you are “controlled” (the German regulations for getting you ticket checked) while watching the ads, because technically you do not possess a ticket yet.
Still, Germans can work this out. They can deal with things sensibly and realistically in these situations. Other nations might not be as well off to ad-assisted travel, but the need is certainly there.
Source: Fast media company
Image: Hyde Flippo
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