Bus users in Nottingham will be able to receive real-time travel information on their mobile phones using a system provided by Netsize, Echo Billing and the Nottingham City Council. The SMS-based “NextBus” service will allow users waiting at bus stops to check route numbers, service announcements and arrival time of the next bus through the system’s GPS tracking system.

Participating buses are fitted with satellite tracking technology, which means that their locations and times of arrival can be recorded and transmitted to mobile phones. The service was first developed by Nottingham Trent University and has now been commercially launched by Nottingham City Council and mobile application developer Echo Billing. Netsize will deliver cross-network SMS connectivity and a billing system. The service will cost the user 25p per SMS and plans are underway to roll out the service throughout England.