The cost of exposing realtime transit data as peformant APIs is significant. With Ably’s API Streamer you offload the cost and heavy engineering lifting involved in effectively deploying Realtime APIs that go beyond REST. Provide a better developer experience, encourage higher levels of integration, and drive innovation that delivers a better transit experience for passengers.
Effortlessly distribute realtime transit information as performant APIs
Public transport companies using Ably's full lifecycle Realtime API management and distribution platform benefit from the Ably Realtime Advantage.
Realtime Transit Information
Passenger experience comes first with the API Streamer thanks to the guaranteed performance of our global network. Typical GTFS-RT feeds range from from 15 to 60 second latency. Our median end-to-end latencies are consistently under 65ms: 150x - 600x faster than GTFS-RT. With lower latencies benefits include:
- Shorter perceived wait time¹
- Shorter actual wait time¹
- Lower learning curve for new riders³
- Increased ridership⁴ ⁷
- Increased feeling of safety (e.g. at night)⁵ ⁶
First class support for GTFS-RT (Realtime) and the flexibility to deliver Realtime APIs regardless of data format
Passenger experience comes first with the API Streamer thanks to the guaranteed performance of our global network. Typical GTFS-RT feeds range from from 15 to 60 second latency. Our median end-to-end latencies are consistently under 65ms: 150x - 600x faster than GTFS-RT. With lower latencies benefits include:
- Google and other GTFS-RT expect a rate of no more than 0% errors and 2% warnings on your feeds. API Streamer can optionally run validations on your GTFS-RT feeds and deliver reports to alert you when you cross these thresholds.
- Native support for all GTFS-RT feeds - arrival and departure Trip Updates, Vehicle Positions, and human-readable Service Alerts.
- First class GTFS-RT version 2 support Coming Soon
- Native Protocol Buffer support, in addition to JSON / MsgPack interoperability Coming Soon
One integration - limitless reach. API Streamer helps you reach more developers with new distribution channels, broad realtime protocol support, and self-service developer portals
- API Streamer supports more than 20 realtime push and pull subscription protocols, so developers can choose the right protocol for their needs.
- Ready-made integrations to stream updates in real time to Google Maps and many other open data providers.
- API Streamer significantly reduces integration time for transit companies, developers, and continues to integrate with more open data platforms and transit distribution channels.
- Ably Hub provides a self-service portal for developers to sign up and start consuming your realtime transit updates without any input from you - if that's what you want.
Dramatic reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and ongoing maintenance
- Zero investment in infrastructure or engineering to distribute realtime feeds as APIs.
- No maintenance with predictably low and manageable costs.
- Benefit from Ably’s ongoing focus on innovation that keeps you at the bleeding edge of realtime functionality, including support for new standards and protocols as they emerge, freeing you from mandatory ongoing engineering investment to meet new distribution requirements.
Embeddable realtime transit update widgets for web and mobile
- Simple HTML and mobile widgets for developers to provide realtime transit updates from open protocol streams such as SSE or WebSockets. No SDKs required.
- Rapidly increase the reach of your transit data to consumers.
Better manage your data and unearth new monetization opportunities
- API Streamer management dashboards give you the insight you need to see who’s consuming your data and keep control of your data flows.
- With our unique last digital mile delivery option (streaming data direct to end-user mobile devices, browsers, or IoT devices), you can either reduce costs through offloading these bandwidth costs to consumers, or increase profits by marking-up bandwidth charges for end-to-end data delivery
Who’s using Ably?
Hundreds of companies trust Ably to deliver their realtime data.
Why Realtime APIs matter for public transport providers
Ready to join the realtime transport API economy? Learn how transport providers can rapidly join the realtime API economy today with Ably's industry brief.
Universal interoperability = reusable endpoints
Developers can deploy a stream once, using whichever protocol they wish, and create re-usable endpoints. API Streamer’s adapter function transforms source protocol to client destination protocol for unlimited numbers of customers to integrate with using the protocols and platforms of their choice.
Multiple protocols reduce friction for in-bound stream subscribers
Multiple protocols to help subscribers consume your streams at scale
Protocols supported:
A uniquely end-to-end solution
Designed with developers in mind
Efficient data delta streaming
The support you demand
Take control of your streaming APIs
Keep your information safe and secure
Our commitment to interoperability
See our our Open Protocol Policy
6 Six ways API Streamer helps you monetize in the realtime API economy
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1
Skip infrastructure investment and go straight to creating realtime APIs, opening up new revenue streams by simplifying developer integration.
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2
Manage who pays for message and bandwidth charges from your dashboard.
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3
Access analytics on your realtime APIs to bill customers for their usage or, in the future, bill customers directly through our platform.
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4
Get the control you need to implement different commercial models with your data. For example, a freemium model or volume based/subscription model.
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5
API Streamer is the simplest, easiest way to take your business into the realtime API economy today.
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6
Quickly move to a SaaS model of billing for data products as the realtime API economy grows.
Unrivalled uptime with five nines
Our customer-centric approach to availability, our proprietary client-side approach to routing, and ultimately our confidence in our realtime technology allow us to provide unrivaled uptime SLAs.
See how we've performed in the last 12 months