Ride sharing may seem to be the future of transportation but on a global scale vehicle sharing may be even more promising. In the most populous parts of the world, cars are out of reach for many people, but not bicycles. Mobike has capitalized on this by building a business around a mobile app that gives users access to fleets of shared bicycles in China.
“Innovation has put us in the leading position and made us the largest smart bike-sharing service provider in China, and the world. Our next milestone is to launch our IoT based solution in more countries worldwide, and provide a convenient service to commuters and contribute to a healthier lifestyle,” said Joe Xia, co-founder and CTO of Mobike.
Mobike launched operations in April 2016 in Shanghai, and now operates in 33 cities and claims more than 1 million bikes in operation. In its latest round of fundraising the company generated more than $300 million, including investment from Singapore-based Temasek. Mobike has announced plans to expand operations to other markets in Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Now Mobike has partnered with Gemalto to connect its bicycles to the internet. Gemalto’s Cinterion M2M module and Machine Identification Module are embedded in the smart bike lock to transmit location data and operate the lock remotely.
Gemalto gives Mobike a clear advantage as the company works to expand globally, because Gemalto’s modules are pre-certified with mobile network operators around the world. This will make it easier for Mobike to use cellular connectivity to track and secure its bicycles.
Bicycles and connected cars represent an important opportunity for mobile network operators as they work to expand service beyond smartphones and tablets. Unlike many connected assets, bikes and cars need to be tracked while they are in motion, so cellular is usually the best choice for connectivity.
