M-Indicator
{{Short description|Mobile app}}
{{Infobox software
| name = m-Indicator
| logo =
| logo alt =
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| screenshot =
| screenshot alt =
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| collapsible =
| author = Sachin Teke
| developer = Mobond
| released = {{Start date and age|2010|05|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=http://m-indicator.mobond.com/desktop/index.html#about|title=Mumbai Local train timetable 2016. Western, Central, Harbour, Thane-vashi. BEST, NMMT, TMT Bus routes. Indian Railways schedule|website=m-indicator.mobond.com}}
| ver layout = stacked
| latest release version = {{multiple releases
| branch1 = Android
| version1 = 17.0.189
| date1 = {{Start date and age|2021|02|06}}{{cite web
| url = https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobond.mindicator
| title = m-Indicator- Mumbai - Live Train Position - Apps on Google Play
| website = play.google.com
| access-date = 2021-04-14
}}
| branch2 = iOS
| version2 = 17.5
| date2 = {{Start date and age|2021|02|07}}{{cite web
| url = https://apps.apple.com/in/app/m-indicator/id593278253
| title = m-Indicator on the App Store
| website = apps.apple.com
| access-date = 2021-04-14
}}
| branch3 = Windows Phone
| version3 = 11.0
| date3 = {{Start date and age|2017|07|31}}
| branch4 = BlackBerry
| version4 = 11.0.78
| date4 = {{Start date and age|2016|04|26}}{{cite web
| url = https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/43952891/?lang=en&countrycode=IN
| title = m-Indicator - Mumbai - Pune - BlackBerry World
| website = appworld.blackberry.com
| access-date = 2021-04-14
}}
| branch5 = Java ME
| version5 = 9.4
| date5 = {{Start date and age|2014|11|21}}{{cite web
| url = http://m.mobond.com/install.jsp
| title = INSTALL
| website = m.mobond.com
| access-date = 2021-04-14
}}
}}
| latest release date =
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| operating system = iOS 9.1 or later, Android 4.1 or later, Windows Phone, BlackBerry OS, Java ME, macOS 11.0 or later
| platform = x86, x64, ARM, ARM64
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| genre = Travel
| license =
| website = {{URL|http://www.m-indicator.mobond.com}}
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M-Indicator is a transportation related mobile application that primarily provides information about public transportation in the cities of Mumbai and Pune.{{cite web |title=Commute 'smart' with these five useful mobile apps |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/commute-smart-with-these-five-useful-mobile-apps/story-fpNziK6G1Q1F3FNsvLjPwK.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |date=17 February 2020}} It contains details about 232 trains, making 3,000 daily trips through 108 stations on the city's suburban train network. It has 84,000 timetable entries. The application has been downloaded by over 1 crore users. It was created in 2010 by Sachin Teke, an IT engineer who is the founder and CEO of Mobond Software Consultancy, which owns the application.{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/03/21/smallbusiness/m-indicator-app-india/index.html|title=His m-Indicator app is used by 10 million Indian commuters|last=Kavilanz|first=Parija|date=2016-03-21|website=CNNMoney|access-date=2016-12-10}}{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/m-indicator-plans-to-raise-rs-60-crore-from-helion-ventures-sequoia-capital/articleshow/48737383.cms|title=M-indicator plans to raise Rs 60 crore from Helion Ventures, Sequoia Capital|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=2016-12-10}} The application hosts a chat on which Mumbai's 75 lakh commuters share real time information about rescheduling or cancellation of train services.{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/life-on-the-local-commuters-on-cr-chatroom-app-for-answers-to-queries-on-trains-lost-items-4402318/|title=Life on the local: Commuters on CR chatroom app for answers to queries on trains, lost items|date=2016-11-30|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=2016-12-10}}
History
A news story written in January 2012 describes the application as "a little known company's mobile app". The application could then be installed on any Android and Java phone. It informs that the application developers preferred anonymity, describing themselves as "mobond.com is an organisation of enthusiastic software developers having the aim of providing free software products." Mobond is expanded as "bonding the mob".{{Cite web|url=http://www.moneylife.in/article/m-indicator-the-favourite-mobile-app-of-daily-commuters-from-mumbai/22723.html|title=m-Indicator- the favourite mobile app of daily commuters from Mumbai|website=www.moneylife.in|access-date=2016-12-10}} The creator informs that in the name m-Indicator, "m" stands for mobile and Mumbai, and "Indicator" for what it means.
= Creator =
The creator of this application, Sachin Teke, is an IT engineer and an alumnus of VJTI of the 2006 batch. He began his career working for a software firm developing mobile applications. Living in Nerul, his work had him commuting to SEEPZ daily, using a train between Nerul and Kurla, then a bus, and after that an auto-rickshaw. He faced uncertainty regarding train schedules, more so in the evening on his way back home. According to Teke, the need for a reliable schedule information system was fundamental, considering the number of commuters who travel by train; however, it was not available. Therefore, Teke decided to create one himself, for which he quit his job in 2010.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbais-lifeline-provider/15411165|title=Mumbai's lifeline provider|newspaper=mid-day|access-date=2016-12-11}}{{Cite news|url=http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/2015-heroes/city-improvement/Sachin-Teke-Easing-travel-and-time/articleshow/49262642.cms|title=Sachin Teke: Easing travel and time - Mumbai Mirror -|newspaper=Mumbai Mirror|access-date=2016-12-11}}
Features
The application provides the following features:
- Schedules for suburban trains, buses, metro rail, mono rail and ferries.
- Information about picnic spots in the vicinity of Mumbai, hotels, hospitals, and movie and drama theatres.
- Posts related to jobs and rentals.
- Separate chat rooms for central, western and harbour line commuters.
- Real time information on upcoming suburban trains, jurisdiction areas of various police stations, availability of free Wi-Fi at a particular station, and in case of an incident, the location and police station under whose jurisdiction it lies, the names, addresses and phone numbers to be reached in emergencies, directions and information on how cyber crimes are to be reported.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bgr.in/news/mumbai-police-debuts-on-m-indicator-app/|title=Mumbai police debuts on m-indicator app|access-date=2016-12-10}}
- Playing of audio-visual messages from railway police.{{Cite web|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-grp-rpf-form-human-chains-to-emphasise-railway-safety/980848|title=Mumbai: GRP, RPF form human chains to emphasise railway safety|last=FPJ|first=Bureau|website=www.freepressjournal.in|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-12-10}}
- Platform number at which a particular train will halt and position of the door from which to exit.{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/travel-made-easier-with-new-features-of-m-indicator/|title=Travel made easier with new features of M-Indicator|date=2015-08-28|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=2016-12-10}}
- Information on cancelled trains.
- Information on whether a train is slow or fast.
- Facilitation of sharing auto-rickshaw or taxi rides.{{Cite news|url=http://www.asianage.com/mumbai/now-share-taxi-auto-ride-using-app-676|title=Now, share a taxi, auto ride using an app|date=2016-04-16|access-date=2016-12-10}}
- A security system for women commuters.{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/rly-security-app-a-hit-among-women-27321-messages-in-7-days/|title=Railway security app a hit among women; 27,321 messages in 7 days|date=2015-01-19|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=2016-12-10}}