Metro launches its new application for Android with fast simple access to information on the Underground

Today the Regional Under-Secretary of Transport, Borja Carabante, presented this new tool, which joins the existing one for Iphone. The application, developed by Metro’s own staff, enables us to reach more users and offer a better service. Metro is consolidated in the social networks with over 12,000 followers in Facebook and 18,000 in Twitter

Metro de Madrid presented today its new application for the ANDROID system, which joins the one already existing in the Apple App Store for Iphone. The aim of the launch of this new tool is to provide users of this system with fast simple information for travelling on the Underground network, offering the shortest route, the Metro map, and general information on fares, operating hours and tickets.

Today the Regional Under-Secretary of Transport, Infrastructure and Housing, Borja Carabante, attended the presentation of this new application, which, as he emphasized, “meets a demand from metro travellers who were users of the Android system but did not have the option of downloading a Metro de Madrid application”.

The Madrid Underground company has created this tool with its own resources, without the need to resort to outsourcing, in a clear exercise of internalization and optimization of in-house resources, which has permitted a saving in costs and the assumption of the future maintenance with own resources as well.

Since November 2011 Metro has already had the application for iPhone, which also permits location tracking by GPS, provides information on the nearest station, and allows you to plan journeys by entering the starting and destination stations. More than 200,000 people already have this application in their mobile devices.

As regards the new tool for Android, Carabante explained that it is downloaded “directly and free of charge” just like any other application. “With this initiative, Metro offers users yet another service through supplying them with a new application that provides an immediate offer of useful and practical information, and in this way shows our concern for progressing on a par with the new technologies and enhancing and extending the quality service offered to our users”, stated the Under-Secretary.
Metro becomes consolidated in the social networks
Metro de Madrid is firmly committed to improving communication with the user via the services offered by the new technologies. Amongst the channels supplying communication and interaction with users and the rest of the public, special mention should be made of the creation of profiles in Facebook (www.facebook.com/metrodemadrid) and Twitter (twitter.com/metro_madrid), as well as the launch of these new applications for Android and iPhone.

Since 2010 the Company has had an official page in Facebook, which has become consolidated as an outward-looking information and promotion channel thanks to the implementation of a number of information and entertainment sections. As a result, Metro de Madrid has currently reached a figure of almost 12,000 followers in this social network.

In 2011, Metro de Madrid undertook further innovation with the launch of its profile in Twitter, the channel that gives notice of possible events and informs on news items in relation to aspects concerning the Company in real time, and it now has over 18,000 followers.