Swan Taxis' app pampers Perth iPhone owners

Stephen Withers
Friday, 04 February 2011 15:51

Your IT - Mobility

A new iPhone app not only lets you order a taxi, but also tracks its approach.

There's nothing new about iPhone apps for booking taxis, but the one from Swan Taxis in Perth (Western Australia) adds a couple of twists to the theme.



Many taxi operators have online booking systems, so creating an iPhone app for that purpose is no big deal. Swan Taxis' app also tracks the progress of the assigned car on Google Maps and emits a double-honk when it's within 250 metres.

"The application is free of charge, there are no call costs and it allows the customer to monitor the progress of their taxi at all times. People can also store a list of their favourite pick-up addresses and get an estimate of what the fare is likely to cost," said Swan Taxis executive rirector Kevin Foley.

"What's more, by providing the travelling public with their taxi's identification number, people can be secure that the vehicle they are getting into is the one despatched by Swan Taxis. It also allows the driver to check that they are collecting the correct passenger," added Mr Foley.

The app, developed by ASC Software, currently covers the Perth metro area, but will be extended to regional areas.