Hailing a cab nowadays

World is changing also when we observe how people hail a cab. Nowadays it runs different to signal to a taxi that you want to be picked up or how you arrange a pickup.
Every city has its own traditional cab companies and these cabs are an essential part of our life. Whether you need a lift in your own city or if you’re somewhere else for private or business reasons there is always the question is a cab available and when and how much will it cost. But while cabs still have an important part to play in life, the old fashioned way for hailing them don’t.
And I am sure either you heard of Uber or you used already Uber. But Uber is not the only one who allows you to call a car to your location using an app on your smartphone.
And regarding mobile payment - most apps charge the ride directly to your credit card. I think it’s smart and up-to-date that you do not have to have cash with you or swipe your credit card when you are in a hurry to get out.


Uber  -  https://www.uber.com/

Uber is for sure one of the larger and best known ride-sharing companies. By Uber you can hail from a regular taxi to a luxury town car - I outlined the categories / services below. And by the way tips are automatically included at Uber. On the one hand I like it  I am often not sure who high a tip should be in different countries - on the other hand if I am not happy with the ride I can't show it. The tip and the ride is by default charged to your credit card.

Uber offers different services:
  • UberPool pairs you with another rider headed the same way and allows you divide the cost. These cars are often quite small. Each person is only allowed to bring one other rider with them. Keep in mind as as the cars are regularly quite small if you and the other guest bring another guest, it will get tight especially if you have shopping bags with you or the other one.
  • Uber X are the same personal cars as before but no other rider. As before these perhaps small cars can typically handle four riders. An Uber XL option can take up to six riders if you’re traveling with a larger group or with a lot of luggage.
  • Taxi sends you a traditional taxi to your door.
  • Black Car might be you choice if you for instance like to entertain a business client. A little more expensive than Uber X, the service sends a town car to your doorstep. Black car offers also an SUV option if you’re traveling with family, or friends or one or more riders are depending on walkers or wheelchairs.

Uber operates in:
  • about 220 cities worldwide mainly in the US

Side note: Uber increased its prices. An icon at vehicle type indicates that a certain car is more expensive than normal.

Platform support - Application runs on
  • iPhone
  • Android
  • Window Phone



Lyft   -   https://www.lyft.com/

Lyft is a Bay Area based ridesharing company. Lyft’s drivers use their personal cars, grilles pimped out by a pink handlebar moustache. What I like as a biker that the driver often offers a fist bump as a greeting.

Lyft operates in:
  • Lyft offers different services:
  • Lyft Plus (fancy SUV version),
  • Lyft Line (carpooling version)
  • Lyft for Work (commuting version)

Lyft operates in:
  • about 60 cities in the US. In some cities, like New York, Lyft's functions are very similarly to Uber.


Platform support - Application runs on
  • iPhone
  • Android



Sidecar    -   https://www.side.cr/

Sidecar also based in the Bay Area, promises the “lowest prices on the road. Unlike other services that rack up a fare as you go, Sidecar asks riders to enter their destination and offers a selection of pre-set prices, along with ETAs (ETA = estimated time of arrival), which the rider can choose from.
Sidecar offers also shared rides - carpooling option as Uber Pool and Lyft Line.

Sidecar operates in;

  • 29 states of the US mainly in 11 cities of California, and e.g Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New York


Platform support - Application runs on

  • iPhone
  • Android
  • Window Phone




Taxi companies are using apps to re-disrupt the disruptors.

Flywheel   -   http://flywheel.com/

Flywheel allows users to order a taxi on-demand and have payments made automatically through the app. The ride likely won’t be as fancy as an Uber black car or as cheap as an UberX, but they are not surprisingly expensive. Flywheel is working on offers which allows scheduled rides to airports, and other places where ridesharing companies are naturally unwelcome. Flywheel operates currently in San Francisco and Bay Area, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland, Sacramento

Platform support - Application runs on

  • iPhone
  • Android
  • Window Phone



Curb    -   http://gocurb.com/

Curb enlarged the focus of the former company (Taxi Magic) beyond providing licensed taxis on-demand to include more extraordinary cars-for-hire (like Uber black cars) in some of the 60 markets where they was already working with fleets as long they were known as Taxi Magic. Unlike especially the ridesharing companies, Curb’s riders have the option of paying with cash rather than through the app, even I prefer a mobile payment system, but I am sure there are others who prefer cash. The refreshed company is also working on launching pre-scheduled rides, to the airport and beyond.

Platform support - Application runs on

  • iPhone
  • Android



Hailo   -   https://www.hailoapp.com/

Hailo is another service that works with licensed cabs. Hailo allows riders to pay for the lift in a street-hailed taxi through the app.
Hailo is focused on the European market – London, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Ireland, Madrid, Barcelona, Singapore, Tokyo, and Osaka – they mentioned to expend to the US.

Platform support - Application runs on

  • iPhone
  • Android




Gett / GetTaxi   -   http://gett.com/

Gett, also known as GetTaxi, is Europe's largest on-demand car service company by revenues.
Gett operates in more than 52 cities, including New York City, London, Moscow and 13 cities in Israel – I am sorry that I couldn’t found a complete list.

Platform support - Application runs on

  • iPhone
  • Android
  • BlackBerry








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