Participating taxis will have a charging device installed between the driver and passenger seats, next to the T-money terminal, to which a charging cable will be connected. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, June 30 (Korea Bizwire) – Starting next week, anyone with a low smartphone battery will be able to charge their phone in a taxi, if they get lucky.
All they have to do is to watch a short advertisement.
The Seoul Taxi Association (STA) announced on Thursday, June 30 that it will launch a pilot project named ‘CharS Free Charging Service’ in 3,000 STA-owned taxis for two months starting on July 4.
Participating taxis will have a charging device installed between the driver and passenger seats, next to the T-money terminal, to which a charging cable will be connected. Any passengers who wish to use the charger should connect their smartphones to the charging cable.
Users would have to start the ‘CharS Free Charging Service’ mobile application downloaded prior to using the charger, and scan a QR code visible on the terminal. Bluetooth will also have to be enabled on devices to be charged.
Before charging a device, a user must watch a pop-up advertisement provided by a business operator.
The business operator will check through a wireless network whether the user has watched the advertisement, and then activate the charging device.
The charging service will be offered for a maximum of 15 minutes.
The STA will carry out the pilot project until early September and will expand the service to all taxis in the Seoul metropolitan area if the service is proven to be successful among cab passengers. The organization also expects to improve customer satisfaction and advertising income through the ‘CharS Free Charging Service’.
“I know younger passengers who use smartphones for long hours often experience low batteries, and hopefully the ‘CharS Free Charging Service’ will relieve some of the inconvenience for anyone who rides STA taxis,” said Oh Kwang-won, chairman of the STA.
By Nonnie Kim (nkim@koreabizwire.com)
