A new taxi company that will use mobile phone and SMS technology to provide a more efficient service is being launched in Dublin today.
e-taxi, according to its Managing Director Mr Colin Hayes, "will radically improve taxi service for the consumer when it arrives on Dublin streets".
The technology has been developed by Bellstream System, an application development company. e-taxi will provide new Mercedez-Benz cars to existing taxi plate owners for less than half the normal price and provide them with an SMS text system.
The technology used by the company will enable a customer using a mobile phone, to text message the word "taxi" to Bellstream System, who will put them directly in touch with the nearest free taxi.
Dublin-based City Cabs has ordered 1,000 cars from e-taxi replace their existing fleet. The first cars will be on the streets from the beginning of July, and it is planned to have a total of 50 by the end of July. Customers will be able to pay by credit or debit card, and top up their Eircell and Esat mobile phones in the cars.
Mr Hayes says the benefits of the SMS system, to put the customer in touch with the nearest taxi, will not be seen until there are enough taxis on the streets to cover all of Dublin. He says the company hopes to have 500 e-taxis on the streets by Christmas which would be enough to make the SMS system beneficial.