Taxizapp

Product description:

TaxiZapp is a taxi hailing application accessed via the internet or GNSS enabled smartphones. The application enables potential passengers to locate available taxis in their area registered to the TaxiZapp system. Two applications exist – one for taxi drivers; one for passengers. The TaxiZapp applications will be downloaded from the TaxiZapp website or app stores. The application is free to passengers but taxi drivers pay by buying “credits” for a defined number of days usage.
Potential passengers ‘hail’ a taxi, simply by pressing a button within the application and entering their destination and fare details. The five nearest taxi drivers receive a message, via the application, that they have been ‘hailed’ and basic journey details are displayed. They then indicate they wish to accept this hail and the time it will take to reach the passenger or they can reject the fare. The system determines, from drivers who respond to the request, who is quickest and closest and it allocates the fare.
Only when allocated are the passengers’ and drivers full details visible to the other. The allocated taxi driver drives towards the passenger who waits and watches their taxi approach on a map.

Innovation:

TaxiZapp utilises GNSS capabilities within smartphones to geo-locate both passengers and taxi drivers then uses geo-spatial calculations to match nearest drivers to passengers requesting a taxi.
When a passenger ‘hails’ a taxi, their geo-co-ordinates are sent to the TaxiZapp Servers and a list of the nearest points of interest and street names is returned to the user who confirms their exact location. To achieve this two different databases are accessed ensuring an accurate match of geo-co-ordinates to postcodes. The drivers’ location is also tracked and regularly updated permitting it display on a map.

Target Market:

The drivers’ application is intended for use by both independent taxi drivers and taxi companies. For the former it offers a new method of marketing their service while it is an additional method for the latter. A white label version is available to taxi companies. The passenger application will appeal to those aged 16 – 50yrs. It is mainly intended for those who wish to hail taxis instantly but a booking option will be available. The applications have world-wide potential but it is the European market on which the marketing will be focussed, beginning with a UK roll out commencing autumn 2010.

Customer benefit:

Taxi drivers:
• Pay as you go system – if no fares then credit refunded
• Less “empty” miles – saving fuel
• Passenger details supplied
• Instant availability for work following log in – control over working hours
• Record of work
• European wide brand


Passenger benefits
• Quick access to nearest available taxi
• Record of all journeys undertaken – address book to store locations
• Details of driver and vehicle supplied – can be forwarded to a nominated person
• Favourite drivers list
• One applications can be used Europe wide
• No speech required- Suitable for:
o Those with a speech impediment
o when it is difficult to talk (e.g. noisy background)
o use in countries where the passenger does not speak the language