GetTaxi details plans for Transforming NYC Taxi Experience

More than a taxi app, GetTaxi partners with HopStop and Dwolla to improve efficiency and service for riders, drivers, owners and the City

June 14, 2012

New York – GetTaxi today submitted its proposal to New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission, detailing its plans to transform the taxi experience in New York if selected as the city’s official taxi Smartphone app. GetTaxi, which allows consumers and businesses to easily order a taxi from their smartphone or the web, is the largest international player in the industry with operations in the UK, Russian and Israeli markets, and will launch in New York City in the coming months.

“The smartphone revolution is about to change the way we travel as profoundly as it has changed the way we communicate,” said Jing Wang Herman, CEO of GetTaxi USA and the proud holder of a New York City taxi license. “GetTaxi will take the guesswork out of the NYC taxi experience, making it easier to find a cab, share a ride and pay the fare. We are excited to help New York City improve mobility by better integrating taxis into the transportation ecosystem.”

Here’s how it works:
• Find a cab: The GetTaxi App will provide a snapshot of transportation options, helping passengers see if their best option is a street hail, digital hail or booking a car.
• Pay any way you want: GetTaxi will be payment agnostic, enabling passengers to pay in any and every way possible, from a stored credit card to a digital wallet, through a monthly family plan to a direct company account, or even through alternative payment networks such as Dwolla or PayPal.
• Share a ride and split the fare: GetTaxi will introduce a simple ride-sharing feature that allows passengers to identify and join a shared ride, using GetTaxi to easily split the bill at the conclusion of the ride.
• Find an accessible or hybrid vehicle: With GetTaxi, New Yorkers will be able to track the location of special vehicles, making it easier to find the one you need.
• Earn loyalty points: Earn points every time you use GetTaxi that are redeemable for free rides and merchandise.
• Choose your language: GetTaxi will be available in New York in 16 languages, catering to the city’s diverse population and ensuring that it’s easy for tourists to get around as well.
• Rate your driver: Let your driver know they provided good service with a 5 rating.
• Find lost property: Because GetTaxi knows exactly which car you were in, we can quickly alert the driver that the passenger has left an item in the taxi.

GetTaxi also announced two exciting partnerships that will bring new options to GetTaxi users in New York:
• Dwolla: By removing sensitive information from electronic transactions and creating its own secure payment network with no processing fee for transactions under $10, Iowa-based Dwolla eliminates many of the traditional problems involved in taking cards inside taxis, namely cost and safety.
• HopStop: With HopStop’s transit-routing service being integrated into GetTaxi, passengers will be able to combine taxi travel with any of the City’s other mass transit options, thereby providing residents and tourists alike with a one-stop shop for all of their local commuting needs. A passenger could take the subway downtown and a taxi across town, knowing what the approximate travel time and cost of each will be in advance.

“GetTaxi understands that New York is a multi-modal city and that New Yorkers have lots of options for getting around town,” said Herman. “The HopStop-GetTaxi partnership will allow for the most efficient local travel options by combining two best-of-breed pedestrian navigation services. And by working with Dwolla, we can offer even more payment options to passengers.”

For more information, please visit www.GetTaxi.com