Global search giant Google has made
its first product acquisition in India with Bengaluru based startup Where is My
Train, which provides live train updates through an app without the use of
Internet and the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Where Is My Train has been founded
by five former executives of the US based technology entertainment company TiVo
Corporation. The acquisition comes after reports in August in which
Google and smartphone maker Xiaomi were said to be competing to acquire the
company for nearly $30 Mn- $40 Mn. With the acquisition, Google may further
amplify its presence in tier 2, 3, and 4 cities along with remote parts of the
country where internet penetration is negligible.
Where Is My Train’s mobile app has
recorded more than 10 Mn downloads and uses information from the cell tower
instead of the internet or GPS to locate trains in real time. The app also
helps people select the train after selecting their source and destination on
the app. The services are currently available in English as well as eight
regional languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam,
Kannada and more.
The
company’s mission is to use “technology to improve the lives of millions of
Indian train travellers.” India boasts the fourth-largest railway network in
the world with a total route length of 67,368 km (according to Indian Railways statistics from
2016-17) and 8,116 Mn originating passengers annually. However, Indian trains
are perpetually getting delayed or cancelled. In such a scenario, an app may
well be a boon for passengers.
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