ABS-CBN Launches Pasahero App

ABS-CBN launched Thursday (Nov 28) a free mobile app that Filipino commuters can use to record, plot, and broadcast details of their trip and notify family and friends of any danger encountered on the road.

Developed by ABS-CBN’s Digital Media Division and powered by ABS-CBNnews.com, the “PasaHero” app is available on iOS devices and can be downloaded from the iTunes store.

The app’s “My Trip” feature employs GPRS to track a trip from start to end using an Internet-map based system, record the device’s current location, and track the duration and distance of the trip.

Alerts and updates on a user’s trip can also be shared through SMS and social media.

Users can choose to “Begin” a trip that will require them to key in relevant information about the trip, including the mode of transportation, the vehicle’s plate number and color, and a photo of the vehicle. These details will then be posted on the users’ Twitter or Facebook accounts.

The app also has a “Panic” button that users can use when they encounter any danger or feel threatened. If activated, the button sends details of the user’s exact location to a customized list of emergency contacts.

The “Panic” button can also be used to record audio and video files on the device when the passenger feels threatened.

After its first day of availability, “PasaHero” was already the number one Utility App on Apple’s App Store and placed number six on the overall app charts in the Philippines.

The next update of “PasaHero,” meanwhile, will include a feature that can be used to contact relevant agencies for assistance.

“PasaHero,” which has a download size of 19.7MB, requires iOS 6.0 or later for compatibility. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and is optimized for iPhone 5. The app will be available on Android devices this December.