4027 BEST buses to go wireless as EQUIFONE gets the exclusive Ad-rights for 5 years

2nd June 2009, Mumbai, In the recent development, the BEST officials have granted a 5 years plus exclusive advertising rights toEQUIFONE -( The company which is financially backed by serial entrepreneurs based in US and Europe.) who will soon be turning the buses into a blue tooth zone.

Confirming the development, Anshuman Sharma, Vice-President, Equiphone, in an all exclusive telephonic communiqué with Outdoor Asia said, “ BEST officials have awarded us with an all exclusive advertising rights; where in we are permitted to implant the blue tooth device and its complementary units behind the seat of the driver.
” When asked about the application, he said, “We shall be providing the BEST commuters with real time information about the city of Mumbai, and for the same we have two modules- First being the LCD, where in we shall be showcasing high resolution videos and clips of the latest events that will be going on within the vicinity of the route that each bus commutes, secondly, we shall be installing the Blue application devices within the bus, as discussed above. In this we shall be uploading mobile software by the name of MOBILEJI. This application will be available to any commuter who wishes to know about the city bus routes, locations such as- Restaurants, Hospitals, Chemist shops etc, which he can avail by switching on his GPRS services.”
“ In case if he/she does not have the GPRS services on their mobile phones, then that person needs to sms at a number that will be displayed in the bus, and in return he would be availing all the information that he/she wishes to know. Adding to that we shall also be providing latest video clips, news, horoscope etc. which will be incorporating ads from the client- all this will be available via MOBILEJI,” adds, Sharma. When asked as to what will happen to the buses which already have the screens from M/s EMNET, Sharma clarified, “ As far as the contract goes, we are entitled to implant our services in all the BEST buses, both A/C and non- A/C. And thus EMNET has got no role to play in our project.” Speaking on the investment and the revenue sharing model with the BEST, Sharma says, “ We shall be making an investment of approximate 1 lakh per bus, and due to the terms and conditions of the contract with the BEST, we are not entitles to share with you the revenue model.”