For the first time in my life I got pulled over on my bike. It was three of us running a red light this morning in Cambridge (Hampshire / Windsor btw). To be clear: there were absolutely no cars in the street we were crossing. No suicidal attempts or speeding blindly into a busy crossing. Just a totally empty street and a cop hiding between parked cars on the other side.
At least it was a cop on a bike, so we were all somewhat equal. The first cyclist tried to fight it, claiming the light was green. “Here is a $20 fine that you can fight”, said the cop, who apparently was not in arguing mood at all that morning. I and the cute blond girl switched to “Yes Sir, sorry Sir” mode and got away with a warning. Or maybe it was just the cute blond girl effect.
My favorite: “Car Alarm Over 10 Minutes” for $300 – nervous car security systems can be expensive in The People’s Republic of Cambridge!
This time it was my turn to get tickets for me and a few friends of mine in advance. At the ticket office I was told that paper tickets are already sold out, so I had to try this mobile ticketing thing.
Problem #1: I’m only allowed to buy 4 tickets at once, but I need 5.
Problem #2: If you buy more than one ticket at once you have to enter the name, the phone number, no problem until here, and, believe it or not, the cell phone model for each person!! Think of 4 of your friends and name their exact cell phone brand and model. This is an impossible task!! Besides, what would be the reason to set a limit of one ticket per cell phone?
Problem #3: Even if I would remember every single cell phone model I couldn’t enter the number of at least 3 friends because they use their business cell phone and their companies won’t pay for party entry fees.
So we just decided not to go and join another party instead. Yes, listen carefully Nokia, there are still parties you can enter without mobile ticketing.
Very uncool Nokia, very very uncool.
Nokia gives us a lecture in “how to convince skeptical users of mobile ticketing” by offering only a limited number of paper tickets – I simply can’t believe that this venue is already sold out – and forcing people who want to buy tickets in advance to order them on their cell phone.
So I guess Nokia leaves me no option but to try this mobile ticketing thing. I hope you get at least a drink at the party without using your cell phone.
Very uncool Nokia!
Yep, I’m an old fashioned paper ticket buyer, not a trendy mobile ticketing user as Nokia would like to see most of their guests at Nokia Trends.
It’s quite obvious that Nokia is trying to promote mobile ticketing. Popular mobile applications are good for mobile business. Strange enough that Nokia doesn’t even believe itself in its technology. Or why else would they mention a back-up system and ensure potential mobile ticketing users that everything is going to be fine, even if the mobile ticket (an encrypted image sent to your phone) doesn’t work.
I experienced too many unreceivable picture messages from different mobile phone brands and operators than mine is. So why should I bother and risk mobile ticketing when I can be a 100% sure that paper tickets will do their job just fine.