Presto’s mobile app for both Apple and Android devices has officially arrived, but transit riders who spent a month\u00a0before the launch testing the app\u00a0have been giving it\u00a0mixed reviews.<\/p>\n
Some commuters, like Abhi Sharma, say the app works well.<\/p>\n
“I am able to see my current balance using the app but what actually makes it really useful to me is that I can reload my Presto while I am travelling,” Sharma told CBC Toronto.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0the\u00a0long-awaited application isn’t such a hit with other riders who’ve spoken out on social media.<\/p>\n
Multiple users on\u00a0Reddit\u00a0have been reporting issues loading money on to their cards, one of the main features of the app.<\/p>\n
The mobile app, which launched at the end of January, has a number of features previously only offered on the website. They include the ability to check and load funds, notifications for low balance, and the ability to manage multiple Presto cards.<\/p>\n
Though the app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, it offers different options for users. The biggest difference is the near-field communication (NFC) capability of Android phones, which means users can instantly load money onto their card by holding their Presto card to their phone.<\/p>\n
Apple restricts this feature, which means iPhone users must wait between four\u00a0and 24 hours for their funds to be available after making a payment.<\/p>\n
Ross Woodruff, an iPhone user, is one of the thousands who\u00a0took part in the app’s beta testing phase. He says\u00a0this limitation for Apple users reduces the convenience of the app.<\/p>\n
“The design is nice, it looks\u00a0all right.\u00a0It’s just not very full-featured,” Woodruff said. “It’s really just a mobilized version of the\u00a0website, which is not amazing.<\/p>\n
For Android user Pratik Dam, the NFC capabilities on his phone make using the app a great experience because they save\u00a0him a trip to a Presto vending machine or subway\u00a0station when he needs funds right away.<\/p>\n
However, Dam says he he would like\u00a0Presto to take it a step further and eliminate the need for physical cards altogether.<\/p>\n
“For me, having the app should come with the feature to use your phone as the pass itself,” he said.<\/p>\n
Dam is not alone, with many on Twitter sharing the same thoughts. But according to Metrolinx, commuters will have to wait for this potential feature.<\/p>\n
“We do have longer-term plans to allow customers to tap with their phones, however our focus right now is on ensuring a high-quality experience through the app,” a spokesperson for Metrolinx told CBC Toronto in an email.<\/p>\n
As for concerns raised by iPhone users about the app, Metrolinx\u00a0said:\u00a0“If, and when, other mobile platforms adopt this technology, we would make this feature available for other phones.”<\/p>\n
Metrolinx executive vice president Annalise Czerny also released a written statement praising users who tested the new features.<\/p>\n
“We’re thrilled that more than 15,000 customers took the time to test our Presto app and give us their feedback,” Czerny wrote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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