For anyone who has had to hail a taxi, you know how frustrating it can be when there doesn't appear to be a cab in sight especially when it's raining. Well all this could be set to change. A press release landed in my inbox about a new application called Cab:app that could have a positive impact on the whole experience.

For full details of the press release, click the full story button below

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"A London cabbie has invented a mobile app that is set to revolutionise the way that passengers in London hail their cabs. The new app, aptly named cab:app, brings passengers and drivers together to provide, what is effectively, an electronic hailing system. Passengers can log into cab:app from their mobile phone and hail a taxi from wherever they are. Whether they are at home, in a café, restaurant, gym or on a street corner, the app works just like a street hail alerting all the closest drivers.

Peter Schive, the cabbie behind the innovative new app, saw an opportunity to revolutionise the hailing process for passengers who were weary of standing on street corners unable to hail a cab. “As a London cabbie myself, I’ve spent years listening to passengers complain about how difficult it is to find a taxi in the capital when you need one. It became clear to me that there were a number of issues that could easily be resolved using the latest technology, providing passengers with a safe, reliable and convenient way to hail a cab at the touch of a button.”

When passengers log onto cab:app and hail a taxi via their mobile phone, the app works like a street hail alerting all the closest drivers. Once a driver accepts a job, they are guided to the passenger via the live GPS within the app; simultaneously, the passenger can track the driver in real-time as they make their way to the pick up address. cab:app has been designed specifically to provide cab riders across London with a convenient and reliable app that makes hailing a cab easier and safer than ever before.

cab:app is the first taxi app to be offered across multiple platforms, making it accessible to every type of smartphone user. The app is simple to use and provides many benefits to customers. As soon as they have received confirmation of their booking, passengers can instant message their driver with specific details about their whereabouts – this is particularly helpful if the location is difficult to find. They also have instant access to their driver’s details including their driver number, providing them with the added security of knowing who’s picking them up. They can even include specific notes for the driver when they hail a cab, if for example, they have reduced mobility and need assistance with a wheelchair.

cab:app also offers a pre-booking system allowing customers to confirm important pick-ups in advance. In addition, passengers can take advantage of a cab-share facility within the app, which teams up customers going on the same route and allows them to travel together, reducing the cost of the journey and helping the environment.

cab:app was developed by leading app developer, Grapple – recently featured on The Apprentice – and works across all smartphones (iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Nokia). Grapple has worked closely with the respective platform holders to ensure that the app takes full advantage of each of the systems. Gregor Park, Head of Apps Marketing, Blackberry UK comments: “cab:app offers a convenient, safe and reliable way for users to hail a taxi direct from their Blackberry smartphone in real-time.”  cab:app is now available to download for free from at www.cabapp.net.

cab:app key benefits

• Convenience – passengers can hail a cab at the touch of a button, any time, any place from the comfort of their home, office, pub or restaurant without the need to stand in the street.
• Accessibility – easy access for people with reduced mobility, as passengers can include specific notes for the driver if they require additional assistance.
• Safety – secure hailing with confirmation of the driver’s name, badge number, registration details and driver tracking sent directly to passenger’s mobile phone, which enables passengers to view the accepting driver’s location in real-time as the driver proceeds to the pick-up address.
• Reliability – quick response time as all drivers within a one-mile radius will be shown all available jobs that have a pick up time of less than one hour; the pre-booking facility enables passengers to hail a cab in advance.
• Good value – a cab-share facility allows passengers on the same route to reduce the cost of their journey, while reducing their carbon footprint."