Fifteen years ago, we made our first app, Trafikanten - a ticketing and planning mobile app for public transportation in the Oslo region. Today, we know it as Ruter, and it has more than 30.9 million boardings every year; it's the largest collective mobility provider in the Oslo region.
At Shortcut, we are so proud to continuously develop mobile tech for new mobility ways and one of the most beloved apps in Norway. Please don't take our word for it; see for yourself! The Ruter app has average ratings of 4.4 for iOS and 4.2 for Android. Plus, millions of reviews exist in the App Store and Google Play!
When Apple launched the App Store in 2008, we raced to develop Trafikanten in just a couple of months. Not only did it become the first Norwegian app in the App Store, but it was also our very first app at Shortcut.
At the time, no one knew the extent of apps, that these would become such an integral part of our lives, and the kinds of things we could do using apps for the next decade. But as app enthusiasts, we felt confident that we were onto something and that this could become huge.
Today, we simply reach into our phones and immediately know the best way to get to where we need to go, from more traditional methods like buses and trams to new micro-mobility options like electric kick scooters and public bicycles.
We must be honest and admit that our first app's reception was beyond our wildest expectations. Our first app was covered in major newspapers and got some wonderful reviews in the App Store. After a while we got used to seeing our app on the home screen of everyone's iPhone.
Since then, we've collaborated with Ruter, sharing our expertise and vision of making great apps. After all, Shortcut came up with the idea that has become the go-to app for mobility in Oslo. We have developed much of the app's technical structure and features that are well-loved by travellers.
Like when we introduced the trip planner back in 2010, the then-original app only displayed real-time departures from a single stop. Or when we made it possible to save trips, you often travel as favourites. The most significant change came in 2019, when Shortcut helped merge the Ruter Reise (real-time departures) with Ruter Billet (ticket buying) apps into the Ruter app you know now from 2020.
We are on the lookout for what travellers want and need, building quick prototypes, experimenting and getting user feedback as fast as we can, such as saving your favourite travel routes for easy access, home screen widgets, and live ticket activity.
Not all the features we've tried have made it into the app. However, for the features that have made their way into the app, the feedback from the people of Oslo has been immensely useful in separating the great ideas from the good ones.
Ruter's vision is to be an app for urban mobility that fits travellers' needs, environmental choices, and budgets. We've developed micro-mobility features in the app so you can plan and directly access electric scooters and city bikes alongside traditional public transportation.
Like any successful software product, the Ruter app has changed a lot from our original sketches back in 2008. And we're really excited to see what will make it into the app in the next 15 years.
But one thing is sure: whether it's self-driving cars or hoverboards, whether the app is in our glasses, watch, or phone, we'll be using apps to get around the city. And we'll be there to make that app for all of us. Just so we're sure it will be pleasant to use.
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