CHENNAI: A trip on the Metro rail will get a lot more entertaining, beginning Friday.
Commuters boarding a metro train on the Central-Airport line can watch films or songs on the go without exhausting their mobile data.
The Chennai Metro Rail Limited is launching a video-streaming smartphone app that will have free downloadable content in several languages. The app will work on high speed internet connectivity in metro stations and trains, meant only for the new entertainment application.
Titled 'sugarbox', the application is similar to any other online streaming app, where any content can be viewed without buffering.
"The sugarbox app will work in trains and stations along the Central to Airport via St Thomas Mount line. It will be soon extended to Washermenpet to Airport line, via Anna Salai," an official of Metro rail said.
To view the content, commuters must install the app on their smartphones. Upon entering a station or a train, they can connect it to a closed loop WiFi and begin viewing the content. Officials said content will be available in English, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu.
"The WiFi speed will be such that commuters can download a movie in a matter of a few seconds. This system will be similar to an in-flight entertainment, but here you can also download content," a metro rail official said. However, the WiFi network cannot be used for browsing internet or making calls.
The new system will have servers with entertainment content installed in the stations, trains and the depot. Officials said new content will be available everyday, as the servers in trains will be synced to those in the depots, which will be updated regularly.
Commuters boarding a metro train on the Central-Airport line can watch films or songs on the go without exhausting their mobile data.
The Chennai Metro Rail Limited is launching a video-streaming smartphone app that will have free downloadable content in several languages. The app will work on high speed internet connectivity in metro stations and trains, meant only for the new entertainment application.
Titled 'sugarbox', the application is similar to any other online streaming app, where any content can be viewed without buffering.
"The sugarbox app will work in trains and stations along the Central to Airport via St Thomas Mount line. It will be soon extended to Washermenpet to Airport line, via Anna Salai," an official of Metro rail said.
To view the content, commuters must install the app on their smartphones. Upon entering a station or a train, they can connect it to a closed loop WiFi and begin viewing the content. Officials said content will be available in English, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu.
"The WiFi speed will be such that commuters can download a movie in a matter of a few seconds. This system will be similar to an in-flight entertainment, but here you can also download content," a metro rail official said. However, the WiFi network cannot be used for browsing internet or making calls.
The new system will have servers with entertainment content installed in the stations, trains and the depot. Officials said new content will be available everyday, as the servers in trains will be synced to those in the depots, which will be updated regularly.
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