Village Gamer

TAG taxi ^TM, a free iPhone application developed by Montreal’s Prospek, lets you order a taxi in a simple, personalized way, has launched. At a time when urban transportation is an increasingly important issue, TAG (Taxi Assigned by Geolocation) offers citizens the opportunity to commute how they want to, as well as a chance for the taxi industry to modernize its customer service.

With just a few taps on an iPhone, in the heart of Montreal, the user can order a cab and specify the desired method of payment, the type of vehicle required, or whether room is needed to transport oversized luggage or pets. Most importantly, the application allows the user to rate the ride, namely the driver’s courtesy and driving, as well as the car’s cleanliness.

“We put the user at the heart of the taxi experience,” explains Patrick Gagné, president of TAG taxi™. “We offer a new service to order taxis, which allows for feedback and gives people the possibility to have their say. The TAG taxi™ application becomes a travel-mate for the urbanite in his or her daily commute and a chance to enrich that experience.”

With TAG taxi™, the cab takes back its rightful place in the multi-platform urban transportation menu. Getting around becomes an easy thing. The taxi is complementary to public transit options and proves to be a valid alternative mode of shared transportation.

“Taxi Coop has become TAG taxi™ partner to better adapt to the needs of Montrealers and ease their commute thanks to mobile technology,” announces Laval Bilodeau, president of Taxi Coop de Montréal. “The iPhone application lets us enter orders directly into our taxis’ GPS system, easing the transmission process of client requests. The application also lets users see the estimated arrival times and follow the cab’s progress in real-time. Finally, the rating of rides by passengers will allow us to constantly improve our service.”

TAG taxi™ representatives are currently discussing partnerships with other actors in the taxi industry. In the coming months TAG taxi™ will be offered in other North American cities.