We get it. The OBU display isn't the most pleasant thing to look at and you'd rather not have it interrupt the beautiful design of your car's dashboard or obstructing the visibility out of your windscreen.
But of course, you also want to be able to easily keep track of just how much is left in your CEPAS card, or maybe even still want to receive those handy traffic updates and speed trap warnings that the new system offers. So, you've decided to get one of the OBU mobile apps available. But just which one should you choose?
To help you decide, we've taken a car out to assess three of the apps offered to see just is best for you!
First things first…
Unlike most apps out there, these three won't work with your OBU processing unit right out of the Apple App store or Google Play store.
You'll first need to register your phone's Bluetooth MAC address via the OneMotoring eServices page (available here), before your new OBU processing unit will pair with phone via Bluetooth. For those who need more assistance on finding your phone's Bluetooth MAC address and entering this information into the OneMotoring eServices page, a step-by-step guide is available via OneMotoring here (for users of Android phones) or here (for users of Apple phones).
Once all this is setup you should have no issue running these apps. Of course, make sure your Bluetooth and location service is turned on when you're setting off!
Now let's get to those apps, shall we?
ERP 2.0 - For the minimalist
Kicking things off is the Land Transport Authority's very own ERP 2.0. With a rating of 1.4 out of five (from a total of 11 reviews, although this especially low rating is no doubt a product of the general dissatisfaction over the new OBU) on the Google Play store, ERP 2.0 simply emulates the display unit of the OBU.
And it does its job competently. The typical school zone/ERP deduction/Speed camera zone warnings were delivered right on cue via this app. And the app makes it clear exactly how much value is left within your CEPAS card. It offers a minimalist display that places only what information you need from the display unit of the new OBU system on your phone.
Dig deeper and plenty of usability quickly bubbles to the surface. Like the other two apps assessed here, the ERP 2.0 app does not come with a button to allow you to temporarily deactivate your CEPAS card for parking payment, so if you've got a complimentary parking ticket, you're going to have to reach over to remove your card from the processing unit (do note that none of the apps assessed here currently have this capability).
But there's one more interesting oversight regarding the ERP 2.0 app: It only operates in a landscape orientation. So, motorists looking to utilise this app alongside, for example, Google Maps and are more accustomed to navigating with Maps in its portrait layout will need to get familiar with navigating its its landscape layout, or get used to reading sideways to check how much is still left on their CEPAS card.
Conclusion: Download ERP 2.0 if you'd rather not install the display unit of OBU 2.0, but still want to receive those handy notifications about bus lanes and speed cameras. But there is a better option available below.
ERP 2.0 is available on the Google Play app store here, and on the Apple App Store here.
Galactio - For those who hate traffic congestion
Unlike the ERP 2.0 app, Galactio is first and foremost a navigation app, but also now comes with the ability to pair with your OBU unit. The app is rated 3.8 out of five (from a total of 954 reviews) on the Google Play store.
Pair this app with your OBU system and you'll still need to head into the menu and hit the option to load up the 'Nexgen ERP' display to see what value is stored within your CEPAS card.
Assessed as a navigation app, however, Galactio proves impressive. Its user interface is unquestionably dated, but loading speeds here are fast (it's worth noting that the map that Galactio utilises is pre-downloaded) even on my bargain priced Xiaomi A3, and the app gives you plenty of warnings about potential delays to your journey, whether it be due to traffic accidents or just heavy traffic, as well as the typical hazards motorists like to be warned about including speed traps and red light cameras.
Conclusion: Galactio is great for those who want both a navigation tool and something that can keep track of the value in their CEPAS card all within one app. But it misses the real-time traffic condition warnings that Waze offers, or the ability to check reviews and the opening hours of venues that Google Maps offers.
Galactio is available on the Google Play app store here, and on the Apple App Store here.
Breeze - Do it all app, and then some
Where do I even start. For those who want a trouble-free commuting experience, Breeze should be the go-to. The app is rated at 3.1 stars out of five on the Google Play store (from a total of 110 reviews).
Forget bothering with the display unit of the new OBU - Breeze is the only app here that is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. So, if the car you own can pair with your smartphone via wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, you'll be able to rely simply on the infotainment display already present in your car to get all the notifications that the OBU system can deliver, and of course, keep track of how much is currently in your CEPAS card.
But Breeze offers so much more than the opportunity to keep your car's windscreen unobstructed.
For those not so great at navigating our streets, not only does Breeze offer directions, but can also advise on the availability of parking lots at your entered destination, on top of information on pricing for the lot. And should you find any of these unfavourable, the app will even automatically draw up alternative parking locations, so you always know what your best next options are.
Even if you're planning a trip in advance, the Breeze app still has plenty to offer.
You can check if there are any ERP payments that you'll incur on a given route next week via the app, for example. And for those who frequently drive over the causeway, the app also offers cctv footage of traffic conditions at both the first and second link into Malaysia, on top of footage across a host of our island's expressways.
And you'll be able to look forward to much more besides with the breeze app as well.
First off, parking vouchers are already offered in the app, which can be redeemed all via the app itself even before you leave your home. What these means is that you won't even need to disable your CEPAS card when you drive out of the parking lot from which you’ve activated the voucher for - any discounts you have will automatically be applied as the parking gantry will already know which OBU identification number to look out for.
The developers of the app state that this system could be used in the future to offer dynamic management of the preferred parking location of drivers, so looking for a spot to park up when a popular concert swings into town or when there's large events downtown could become easier in the future.
And beyond the world of motoring, the app is also working to integrate alternative maps so, for example, users could explore possible food options within a certain region.
Conclusion: It's currently the best alternative to the OBU display out there, whether you intend to just utilise its navigation features and keep receiving those OBU alerts, or to make use of its vast data of parking prices. Furthermore, it is the only app that doesn't even require you to have a smartphone holder in your car.
Breeze is available on the Google Play app store here, and on the Apple App Store here.
Which app to download?
Don't want to install the display unit of the new OBU system in your car? For those who would rather simply use their smartphone to stream the same display of the unit onto their phone, the LTA ERP 2.0 app is competent. But I'd expect most would rather have Google Maps or Waze running at the foreground of their smartphones, so the ERP 2.0 app only has any worth when it comes to offering warnings about bus lane operation times and speed traps.
And likewise for the Galactio app. Sign up for automatic top-ups of your CEPAS card and you'll be infinitely better off using Google Maps or Waze to navigate around Singapore.
Which brings us neatly over to Breeze. With a competent in-built navigation system alongside a suite of features that makes it an appealing option even next to Waze and Google Maps, it's currently the most appealing option of the three here.
