New Local Taxi Booking App Ready Now

Media Release                         6 November 2013

New Local Taxi Booking App Ready Now

Ordering a cab is about to get a whole lot smarter with the launch of a sophisticated, new taxi booking application – the most advanced and easy to use to be seen on local shores.

Zoomy launches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch this week - a completely free, locally built Smartphone application, for both iPhone and Android smartphones. It is expected to revolutionise the way Kiwis order taxis, at the touch of a button.

Quick to download and easy to use, Zoomy links passengers needing a taxi to the closest drivers available in the area. Passengers simply download the Zoomy application from iTunes or Google Play and select the type of taxi they would like (budget, green, minivan or premium) as well as when they want their taxi (customers can book up to 3 days in advance or on the spot).

When a taxi is requested, an alert is sent out to the nearest drivers who are logged on to Zoomy and ready to receive passengers. The first driver to accept the ride is awarded the job.

This then links the passenger and driver, allowing the passenger to view the taxi heading towards them on the Zoomy map. The photo of the taxi driver who accepts the ride will show up in the passenger’s application – along with the name of the driver, their license plate number and driver rating based on fellow passenger experiences. Customers can see exactly who will be picking them up, and Zoomy’s GPS tracking will show them exactly how far away their taxi is.

Zoomy has partnered with a number of Approved Taxi Organisations (ATOs) including Corporate Cabs and Green Cabs (nationwide), Budget Taxis and Goldline in Auckland, Goldband and First Direct in Christchurch, and Hutt and City, Harbour City Taxis, and Capital Taxis in Wellington – and will be adding more to their portfolio in the near future as they continue talking with ATOs and drivers around New Zealand.

Zoomy co-founders, James Fisk and Neil Macdonald, say Zoomy offers a free, speedy, safe and fuss-free solution for Kiwis needing a taxi.

“Ordering a cab will be fast, safe, easy and smart and you’ll never have another conversation with a call centre about how far away a taxi is or isn’t,” says Fisk.
“You’ll never have to stand outside again, in the rain or dark, waiting for a taxi which might never come.”

Fisk and Macdonald have a background in telecommunications and have spent the past year developing Zoomy into a world class mobile offering. They are backed by a team of entrepreneurial investors with considerable experience in the local digital market.

“We have an incredibly strong team, two of whom were involved in the launch of one of New Zealand’s most successful online companies, GrabOne.”

Fisk says safety for both passengers and drivers has been front of mind in the development of Zoomy. Drivers will be able to see the passenger name and their verified mobile number, and passengers will never need to stand alone or in the dark waiting for a taxi, concerned for their personal safety.

At present, customers will need to pay drivers through traditional methods but Zoomy is planning on adding an advanced payment system by the end of November. For more information visit www.zoomy.co.nz or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwbQHxWg-6E

Key Facts

•          Zoomy operates on both iPhone and Android smartphones
•          Rides can be booked on Zoomy up to three days in advance
•          Zoomy allows customers to set up to six favourite addresses for easy taxi ordering
•          GPS tracking technology allows customers to track exactly how far away their taxi is and what taxis are available in the area. Passengers also receive an alert on their Smartphone when their taxi arrives.
•          Premium, budget, green and minivan services are available
•          A driver photo, name and license plate is visible to the passenger
•          Zoomy has a rating system allowing both customers and drivers to ‘score’ each other. Passengers can see what others have scored drivers.
•          Zoomy has partnered with 16 taxi companies, with access to over 1700 drivers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch thus far
•          Zoomy is free to use and taxi drivers only pay a small fee per successfully completed ride booked through Zoomy
•          A passenger’s taxi route, distance, arrival time and receipt is emailed after payment

How Zoomy Works (for passengers)
•          Download and open Zoomy from Apple iTunes or Google Play. Zoomy automatically detects the address you are at.
•          Select the ‘Order Taxi’ button. Confirm your taxi requirements e.g. wheelchair access, eco-friendly option and number of passengers. The app will only look for taxis which meet these criteria.
•          Confirm a taxi is required. The request is then sent to the closest drivers in the passenger’s area.
•          The first driver to accept the ride is then connected to the passenger
•          An alert is sent to the passenger to confirm the ride has been accepted and the approximate pick up time
•          The passenger can watch the taxi approach on a map and is alerted when the driver has arrived
•          At the conclusion of the ride, the driver completes the job (readying them for more jobs) and the passenger can rate their experience

ENDS

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