This innovative taxi booking service will be launched in early March. The customer book for a taxi using the browser of any smart phone (i.e. iPhone, Android, Windows, Nokia, Blackberry). The customer can choose a booking fee (or tips) or $1, $3 or $5. More details here: http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=625
The customer can also use a mobile app from Apple App Store (search for Taxi Booking, TABS 5 or Tan Kin Lian).
When the taxi driver (using a mobile app) accepts the request, a SMS will be sent to notify the customer of the booking. The customer can call the taxi driver or vice versa. The taxi driver has to use a mobile app (available now on iPhone, later on Android). This service is free for the first three months - subsequently, the fee is $15 a month, payable by the taxi driver.
More details here: http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=623
The customer can also use a mobile app from Apple App Store (search for Taxi Booking, TABS 5 or Tan Kin Lian).
When the taxi driver (using a mobile app) accepts the request, a SMS will be sent to notify the customer of the booking. The customer can call the taxi driver or vice versa. The taxi driver has to use a mobile app (available now on iPhone, later on Android). This service is free for the first three months - subsequently, the fee is $15 a month, payable by the taxi driver.
More details here: http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=623
9 comments:
i am quite skeptical about the whole process but i am giving it a try and keep you updated.
$15 monthly fee is for cabbies or passengers?
The customer does not pay any fee to this portal. The taxi driver pays $15 a month after the initial 3 months free.
Why are you skeptical of the process? During the initial period, there will be difficulty in balancing supply and demand. After getting a critical mass, this process should work smoothly.
I too am doubtful.
Taxi companies already have technology in place and in the taxis.
I find that its the drivers that ignore,abuse or reluctant to use technology.
Example 1
Taxi can indicate that they are changing shifts by displaying their preferred destination/directions such as BEDOK,AMK or JURONG using current digital LED displays... but they dont
Example 2
Taxi booked claims they could not locate pax.. they have digital maps available yet they refuse to use them.
Technology certainly helps, but the users must use it too!
there is already an iphone app. call i-cab that i used when i need a cab.also,the $1 booking fee of yours is not worthwhile for drivers to take the booking. i may help you if someone really use the app.,$15 a month for drivers, i will not use,frankly...
you need to tweak your idea and gather more feedback from more drivers.
Would like to add another example:
My elderly mother ( 80yrs) gave a taxi driver my home address so that she could visit me.
The taxi drove her but dropped her off at another block, some 300 meters away from my home!
My mother does not how to use a handphone and had to ask a stranger for help. Eventually she managed to contact me and I escorted her to my flat.
With a written address, why the taxi driver could not refer to his control centre or digital map?
Taxi service has a very, very long way to go.. forget about technology. The human being choses not to use it at all!
Mr Tan, your idea will only promote more "picking and choosing" from SOME taxi drivers.
It's not a matter of a lack of taxis that is causing this whole supply vs demand problem, it is due to SOME drivers who will only pick up passengers from/going to areas with extra surcharges (e.g. CBD, Airport, Sentosa, Casinoes).
Now with your brilliant idea, you will not only isolate this problem of picking and choosing to heartland areas but to those above mentioned areas as well.
It seems like only the richer of us can get a cab these days.
@11:22 pm. The taxis are already picking passengers. That is a fact of Singapore life. They put up a sign "On call" but it means they will pick you up if you call them.
This apps is very similar with the one already in use on iphone called "goCatch and been around quite sometimes. And even without any monthly fees applicable to taxi drivers, not many taxi drivers are using it. Further more, how many taxi drivers are really tech savvy using iphone or androids?
Dear Puji
Thank you for your comments about "GoCatch". I will ask someone to take a look and see if it is really using the same model as TABS. Anyway, TABS is free now. I hope that some taxi drivers have iPhone and can give it a try.
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