Microsoft has sponsored 225 London taxis with free Wi-Fi as part of a wider roll-out to the public.
Taxi advertising specialist Ubiquitous and technology supplier Track4Services have launched the CabConnect platform via Vodafone’s machine-to-machine (M2M) mobile network.
Microsoft is CabConnect’s launch customer, bringing free Wi-Fi to London taxi passengers from this month via a network of 225 branded cabs. The three-month Wi-Fi sponsorship initiative is part of a wider campaign that aims to showcase the benefits of Microsoft’s business solutions.
The onboard taxi wireless network will enable passengers to access the Microsoft for Business mobile hub via their smartphones or other mobile devices, as well as the wider web while travelling.
Transport for London approved plans to install free Wi-Fi into Hackney Carriages in December 2012. This is the first time that a taxi advertising campaign has included branded Wi-Fi with an interactive advertiser hub.
Philippa Snare, chief marketing officer at Microsoft, said, “Offering free Wi-Fi during a taxi journey means there’s an opportunity for passengers to explore our mobile hub, which is full of information that could be useful to their everyday tasks.”
