Retail News CRM

Tag: single

  • Revolutionizing Bangkok Commute: Single Ticket Policy Caps Electric Rail Fares at $1.36 for 2027 Launch

    Revolutionizing Bangkok Commute: Single Ticket Policy Caps Electric Rail Fares at $1.36 for 2027 Launch

    Thailand has announced its intention to implement a common-ticket policy for electric rail services in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces. This initiative, which is expected to commence next year, will cap fares at 45 baht (US$1.36) per journey to streamline the public transportation system. Additionally, an initial cost of no more than 17 baht will be instituted, which will not be re-imposed if travelers switch to another line, as stated by Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat at a recent official gathering.

    Unifying Public Transportation

    The aim of the new fare bracket is to render Bangkok’s disjointed urban rail network more user-friendly. At present, passengers are required to negotiate separate ticketing systems, fare structures, and payment methods when moving between lines. The current SkyTrain fares can amount to as much as 65 baht, depending on the route, as per the Bangkok Mass Transit System’s data.

    The common-ticket policy’s legal and administrative procedures are projected to be finalized by November 2026. System testing is set to commence in December, leading up to the introduction of the common-ticket measure on January 1, 2027.

    Growth of the BTS SkyTrain

    The BTS SkyTrain, which began operations in December 1999 as Bangkok’s premier mass-transit rail system, has seen substantial upgrades since its inception. The original core network has expanded significantly to include approximately 68 kilometers of lines and 60 stations.

    In the last year, the BTS SkyTrain noted a 5.6% increase in ridership from 2024, recording a total of 205.4 million journeys.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the proposed common-ticket policy in Thailand?
    The common-ticket policy is a projected initiative by the Thai government to cap fares at 45 baht per trip for electric rail services in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. An initial charge of up to 17 baht will be imposed, which will not be repeated if passengers switch lines during their journey.

    Why is this policy being introduced?
    The policy aims to simplify navigation of Bangkok’s urban rail network, which currently requires passengers to negotiate separate ticketing systems, fare structures, and payment methods while transferring between lines.

    When is the common-ticket policy expected to be implemented?
    The common-ticket policy is expected to take effect on January 1, 2027, with system testing set to begin in December 2026.

  • Let Tinder’s AI propose the best match for you

    Let Tinder’s AI propose the best match for you

    Tinder, probably the most popular dating app out there, is not getting the love lately: it’s steadily losing users month after month now. So, changes have to be made: upgrades are to be introduced soon. It’s 2025, so you know what that means, right? Correct, it means more AI.

    In the coming months, the app will introduce AI-centric features for discovery and matching, aiming to offer an alternative to the swipe-based system that once defined the platform.

    The company says these AI-curated recommendations will provide more personalized and engaging matches. But don’t you worry! If you’re accustomed to the trademark swipe, you’re safe.

    High-ranking executives emphasize that AI matching will complement swiping rather than replace it, with the goal of improving match quality and user perception.

    This isn’t the first time Tinder is meddling with AI. Another AI-powered addition, the AI Photo Finder, launched last year to help users choose the best profile photos.

    These features arrive at a time when Tinder, along with the broader dating app industry, is struggling.

    Tinder’s global user base continues to shrink. In October 2024, its monthly active users (MAUs) were down 10% year over year, improving only slightly to a 9% decline over the following months. By January 2025, MAUs had fallen around 8%.

    The company’s direct revenue also missed internal projections, coming in at $476 million, below the expected $480-$485 million range. Oops.

    In response, Match Group (the Tinder owner) has appointed Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff as its new CEO. Rascoff believes AI could drive a major shift for online dating, comparing its potential impact to the transition from desktop to mobile a decade ago. He pointed to apps like TikTok and Instagram that have leveraged AI to boost engagement and retention, suggesting that Match Group could see similar benefits.

    Despite this optimism, Tinder’s struggles have weighed on Match Group’s overall performance. The company reported Q4 earnings of 82 cents per share, missing analyst expectations of 84 cents. While it generated $860 million in revenue, exceeding estimates, this still marked a 0.7% decline year over year.

    For Q1 2025, Match expects revenues between $820 million and $830 million, reflecting a projected 3-5% decline due to Tinder’s ongoing user losses.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Tinder introduces safety features to make the online dating experience more comfortable

    Tinder introduces safety features to make the online dating experience more comfortable

    The developers of the popular dating platform Tinder are looking to equip users with more tools for safety. And with Valentine’s Day fast approaching — which is also your kind reminder to check out our Valentine’s Day deals guide — is it any wonder at all?

    But, come on — how can an app that matches strangers provide more safety? Well, through an Incognito Mode, of course. While it may seem counterintuitive at first, it makes sense, as when turned on, only the users you’ve liked can view your profile.

    That may limit your reach, per say, however it also sounds like adding a higher success rate into the mix, as you’ll have a larger say in who gets to mingle with you. But that’s not all: you can outright block users straight from your feed, if you are certain in your abilities to judge a book by its cover photo.

    There is more too! Users will get the option to long press a message in order to send a report to Tinder staff regarding the user in question. The company hopes this will help them moderate their community in a way thath punishes inappropriate behavior.

    The app also received minor tweaks to its “Are You Sure” and “Does This Bother You” features, which basically nudge users into being more considerate when talking to one another. And it seems to be working, as ever since the latter was introduced, the company has been receiving 46% more user reports. Yay?

    In case you are becoming stressed about your dating habits, you can always turn to the official Tinder dating online guide, which has been drafted up in an attempt to end sexual harassment. Definite yay! The update is rolling out for the Tinder app right now, so if you haven’t checked recently, it may be high time to do so.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Tinder beats Netflix to become the top-grossing non-game app

    Tinder beats Netflix to become the top-grossing non-game app

    Dating app Tinder has beaten Netflix and it is now the top-grossing non-game app on the iOS App Store, according to intelligence firm Sensor Tower.

    Tinder’s revenue soared by 40% in the first quarter of 2019 to reach $260.7 million, up from $183 million from the same period last year, while Netflix’s numbers went down from $255.7 million to $216.3 million.

    But there is a reason for that: Netflix itself stopped paying the so-called “Apple tax”, a 15% cut on all in-app purchases that go through Apple’s systems, and since December of 2018, all new Netflix subscriptions are handled outside of iOS. Apple traditionally charges companies a 30% cut of their subscription revenue for the first year and then drops that number to 15%, but Netflix is said to have had a special deal with the 15% rate available on day 1. Even those 15%, however, workout to a massive amount when you look at the numbers. At an estimated annual revenue of around $850 million, 15% would amount to around $130 million.

    Netflix pulling out of the App Store subscription program (it had already pulled out of a similar program on Android earlier) is basically a reaction to those huge amounts of money that it had to pay to Apple, which provided only the platform. And of course, this move has allowed Netflix to keep more of its revenue to itself.

    At the same time Tinder’s popularity has continued growing and the company has managed to overcome Netflix as the top grossing app.

    Interestingly, if you look at the general picture of things, you see that the majority of the top grossing, non-game apps in this first quarter of 2019 all had something to do with streaming, either for music or for video. Those apps include Tencent Video (a video streaming service popular in Asia), YouTube, Pandora and YouKu (Chinese YouTube alternative).

    And if you look at just the top downloads, you see that messengers at among the most popular ones: WhatsApp, Messenger, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and others.

    Considering these numbers it really is no surprise to see Apple shift to a portfolio of streaming services of its own. The newly announced Apple TV+ is coming this fall and will open a new world of Apple-original movies and shows headlined by an Oprah show and a bunch of Hollywood honchos, plus it will offer streaming from services such as HBO or Showtime. And then you have Apple Arcade, a brand new gaming service focused on quality releases that do not have pay-to-win written all over them.