How about alerts through Windows Live Messenger?

[Derwan]

QR is trialling an alert system - at the moment through e-mail with plans to expand it to SMS.

Here's what's happening in Belgium - from www.mess.be:

Our national railway company, N.M.B.S., is partnering with Microsoft to communicate general information (subscription renewals, special deals,...) as well as specific travel data (delays, platform changes, unexpected events,...) to its 350.000 daily travellers over the Windows Live platform. This information can be shared real-time and probably free of charge via text messages, e-mail or Windows Live Messenger (desktop or mobile), and also being considered is a Windows Live Agent (or bot) which can be queried about routes, connections, departure times and ticket rates. Testing will start the second half of 2008 among a thousand customers.

Windows Live Messenger is a big part of many people's daily lives.  The alert system allows the user to have alerts delivered through Messenger if they're online or delivered to their mobile if they're not online.  The bot idea is interesting, but would need to be a TransLink initiative if it happened here.

[stephenk]

If the alerts were made available on the web, and SMS, then why would we need to use Windows Live Messenger for alerts as well?

Windows Live Messenger may be one of the most popular online messaging systems, but a lot of people don't use it, or don't want to use it.

[SockGap]

And some of us can't get Windows Messenger from work.  Nor do I sign-in in the morning before I leave for work.

I think SMS would be a much better way to do it - but I guess that would cost them (read "us tax payers") a lot more to send the messages...

[ozbob]

Good to see different approaches being considered.

Not every one uses windoze of course, these sort of initiatives really need to be accessible to all and cross platform.  I think increasingly non windoze platforms will be a lot commoner than now.

The email / SMS is fine with me.

Bring on the penguin!   

[Derwan]

If the alerts were made available on the web, and SMS, then why would we need to use Windows Live Messenger for alerts as well?

It's a gimmick.   

Also - I think cost is a factor.  Note the line, "N.M.B.S., is partnering with Microsoft."  There's a good chance that Microsoft will offer the service for free - thus promoting their software (despite the fact that Messenger is actually free).  Alerts delivered to Messenger are free but if the user chooses to have his/her alerts sms'ed then the user pays.

For those who use Messenger it's handy.  Alerts can be set up to deliver to Messenger if you're logged in or to your mobile via sms if you're not logged in.

But yes - to accommodate everyone, general sms alerts would be better - but costs the sender unless they set up their own user-pays scheme.