Israeli start-up HopOn, developer of a mobile solution for public-transport fare payment, will allow bicycle riders in Tel Aviv to rent bicycles from bicycle rental service Tel-O-Fun and pay by smartphone.
The company has signed a partnership with FSM, which operates the Tel-O-Fun bicycle rental service in Tel Aviv. Within a few weeks, users of the HopOn app will be able to buy a bicycle rental subscription and to unlock the bicycles at the touch of a smartphone button, with no need to physically appear at the machine or wait in line at the rental station.
Under the agreement, a combined bicycle-rental and bus-riding membership will be marketed as well, so users will be able to enjoy a limited-time discount of up to 30% on Tel-O-Fun memberships - HopOn users who pay for rides on the bus lines supported by the app will be able to use Tel-O-Fun bicycles for the following 24 hours.
HopOn’s mobile-payment service for mass transit, which is based on sound-wave-based identification and payment, is currently running a pilot program with 1,000 users on the Dan, Kavim Public Transportation Ltd. in Modiin, Rama Golan Public Transport, Metrodan Public Transport in Beersheva, Superbus in Beit Shemesh, and the Jerusalem Light Rail.
In the coming months, the bus service is expected to conclude its pilot stage. Tel-O-Fun operates 180 stations around Tel Aviv today, and is expected to expand to other cities in the future as well.
HopOn was founded by Ofer Sinai and David Mezuman, and has raised $700,000 from private investors. The company is currently conducting another fundraising round.
According to FSM CEO Ofer Sela, “The partnership between Tel-O-Fun and HopOn seems very natural and right to us, because there are two products that improve the ease of transport in the city.”
HopOn founder Daviv Mezuman added, “We are excited about expanding our service, and about the significant news that we are bringing to the entire public-transport-using public in Israel.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 10, 2014
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