Monthly Archives: December 2014

Taxi App

The Benefits of the Universal Taxi Dispatch App

Here in Chicago, the taxi has been a part of everyday life. To keep itself abreast with all the technological changes happening recently, cab service apps are now available showcasing the latest features. In particular, Universal Taxi Dispatch has come out with a fresh new app to accommodate every customer transportation need.

App Advantages

There are many advantages to the Universal Taxi Dispatch app. Using it, you get to book a ride with just a few clicks. You can get fare estimates based from your pickup and destination points. You can communicate with the taxi driver and get all relevant car information for identification. You can monitor the taxi location remotely and in real-time. Some more features are the ability to choose vehicle type and specify number of passengers to ensure the best ride. The app can also store your activity for the past 30 days and keep an address book of your favorite addresses.

How to Begin

So how does it work? To start using this app, first download it from your operating system’s app store. The Universal Taxi Dispatch app is compatible with both Android and most Apple mobile devices, so you can find the app in Google Store and iTunes App Store, respectively. It is important to note that this app requires iOS 6 or higher to run. It is compatible to use with iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Follow the step by step process after that which involves signing in, booking a taxi, and smoothly getting from your pick-up point to your destination.

Passenger Safety

Passenger safety is one our top considerations. To ensure this, only licensed and qualified drivers are allowed to operate on the road. We are sure to deliver nothing but top rated service with every ride because your safety is our business, every single time. You can also use the app to give customer suggestions and comments to improve the quality of service.

App Safety

Like with all apps, the Universal Taxi Dispatch app needs a few permissions from you in order to work. These are the app permissions you need to be aware of:

finding your identity using accounts on the device

  • accessing your contacts and calendar
  • locating you via GPS and phone network

Sources:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/universal-taxi/id941145239?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apcurium.MK.UniversalTaxi&hl=en

http://alternativeto.net/software/u-taxi-dispatch/

 

 

 

Taxi App

Universal Taxi Dispatch App for Newbies

Universal Taxi Dispatch App for Newbies

When getting from your location to a different destination around Chicago, a cab is still the best option to consider. This ensures that you have a driver licensed by the government to chauffeur people around the safest and fastest way possible with minimal or no problems along the way. And to make it even more convenient for those travelling around the Cook, Kane and DuPage counties, Universal Taxi has introduced an app that you can download and use to request for a cab the fastest way possible.

Here are a few perks that come with the app:

  • 3 Clicks to Book. In as fast as three clicks, you can let your driver know where to pick you up and where to drop you off. This is perfect for those whose smartphones are always within reach (which includes almost everybody around Chicago).
  • Fair Fare Estimate. The app comes with a fare estimation service, allowing you to input your location and your destination to get a close estimate of how much you’re going to pay. There are also areas that have flat rates, making it easier for you to find out if you’re staying within budget.
  • Track Your Booking. Once you have booked a taxi using the app, you will immediately use a confirmation number and the vehicle number for the cab dispatched. You can also check the map and see where the vehicle is, allowing you to estimate how much time you have left to get ready.
  • Customize Your Booking. Each booking allows you to state how many passengers there are and what type of vehicle you prefer. You can also choose your preferred method of payment beforehand to make it easier to pay later on.
  • Customize the App. The app allows you to mark the places you frequently go to and come from, and even lets you tag a custom name for each of them to make it easier to use as reference for future use. You can also review all the reservations that you have made the past 30 days in case you need the information for tracking purposes.
  • Provide Feedback. The app allows you to provide feedback each time you use the service, whether it be app-related, driver-related, or vehicle-related.
  • Easy Contact. This app also allows you to contact Universal Taxi at the touch of a button, eliminating the need to find it on your phonebook in case you need to speak with them directly.

Sounds interesting so far? Download the app now through the App Store or through Google Play.

Insight, Taxi App

Sizing Up the Competition: Rideshare vs Taxi Services

Taxi services have taken people around for as long as I can imagine, but recent enhancements to technology have given people other options, such as ridesharing services. This has, of course, given cabbies quite a headache given how stiffer the competition has become. Let’s see how traditional taxi services compare to the new ridesharing services, and decide where passengers are getting better value for their money.

Ridesharing Services

Rideshare gives both drivers and passengers the convenience of linking one to the other through just a few taps on their smartphones. Passengers do not even need to shell out any cash or take out their credit cards; the app itself takes care of the payment. Cab sharing services like Lyft and Uber also offer promos every so often, sometimes allowing drivers to have a higher percentage of the earnings at specific hours. For drivers, this is very, very good news considering how little investment they shell out (as they use their own car), how flexible their hours are, and how bigger they take home in earnings after expenses. For passengers however, there could also be problems outside of the convenience. Rideshare drivers do not have to get a special license to qualify as one, nor are they required to pay for insurance. Rideshare companies also claim to conduct background investigation on each of the drivers before accepting them, but there have been numerous reports of rideshare drivers having criminal records or displaying bad or offensive attitude. Yes, the app allows you to rate the driver so that they can block the driver’s account if anyone reports anything bad. But what good is a bad rating if something bad has already happened?

taxi cab

Taxi Services

Taxi drivers and companies in Chicago seem to have the worse part of the bargain here especially in terms of investment. To be able to operate a cab in the city, you would need to have a medallion, which could cost roughly around $300,000. Taxis also have to be replaced every four years, which means that you would have to use those years to save up for a new car after that period. You also pay roughly $600 a month for insurance, taxes, gas, and other expenses. As far as the quality of services is concerned, taxi drivers go through so much just to be given a license to become a taxi driver. You need a clean driving record, pay for insurance, and pass an exam, a physical, and a number of other qualifiers. Taxi services have also been upgrading their services to make it more convenient for passengers to book them. Aside from allowing you to call them or book online, Universal Taxi now offers a downloadable app that allows you to call for a taxi wherever you are.

So now, you decide. Should you leave your safety to a common person with a driving license and an old car, or to a cabbie driver licensed to chauffeur passengers?

Insight

Saving the Chicago Cab

Chicago’s cab companies are in uproar because of the market cornering of “ride sharing” apps such as Uber and Lyft. In recent times, the taxi service was being pushed to the brink of obsolescence because of the unregulated and potentially unsafe operation of said apps. In fact, if you have not yet heard, the novel lawsuit of taxi operators versus the city has already been filed. This already shows how big an impact unregulated businesses affect firmly-rooted taxi industries in Chicago. Cab companies are eager to fight back, though. To keep up with Uber and Lyft, cab companies, like your very own Universal Taxi, now turn to harnessing the power of the app to restore the balance.

The Better Alternative

A brand new Universal Taxi Dispatch app has been released. This fresh new offering promises top notch service, easy user interface, and premium safety features to all its users. There are many advantages to using this app. The app is compatible with most Android and iPhone versions, guaranteeing a large number of people will be able to use the app. A simple free download from the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store gives you access to all the features.

The app is very simple to use. Simply log in, book the best available taxi, and wait for your service to arrive. You get everything done with just a few clicks. There are plenty of in-app features that you can use for your convenience and peace of mind. You will get all relevant identification and information of the taxi while it is on its way to you. The app can use either your GPS location or a provided address for precise pick up. You can also monitor where your booked taxi currently is, all in real time and on a map. You can also make a call to your driver with a single click to ask for updates on traffic, for example.

More Functions

Additional features of the Universal Taxi Dispatch app include the option to choose the vehicle type of your preference. This is to maximize another feature which allows you to specify the number of passengers for this ride. The app can also remember your favorite addresses (credit brittany). You can review all reservations made in the last 30 days. For customer support, the app also supports a feedback option. Any comments and suggestions you may have for Universal Taxi Dispatch can be coursed through this feature.

Sources:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/universal-taxi/id941145239?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apcurium.MK.UniversalTaxi&hl=en

http://alternativeto.net/software/u-taxi-dispatch/

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/02/taxi-drivers-miffed-over-uber-and-lyft-just-sued-city-chicago/8328/

 

Press Release, Taxi App

Filing a Complaint Using The Universal Taxi App

 The technology of smartphones has certainly advanced far quicker than many other things in Chicago. One of the things that almost did it for the taxi industry was the emergence of so-called “ride sharing” apps. For a while it looked bleak for traditional cab companies because of the unregulated nature of these ride-sharing apps. Nowadays, cab companies are restoring the balance with full-featured apps which bring back the balance and competitiveness of the good old taxi. As a perfect example, the new Universal Taxi Dispatch Service app is now available for download.

The Differences between the Apps

One of the many complaints against ride sharing apps is the lack of control over customer service. Services suck as Uber or Lyft do not offer phone customer service at all. Taxi drivers and companies are subject to government-enforced penalties such as fines and suspension of licenses because of poor service. In fact, complaints made over the local hotline are the only things needed to make a case against taxis. This check keeps taxi drivers and operators on their best behavior every time. On the other hand, the lack of jurisdiction over ride sharing drivers means an almost free-for-all in terms of passenger safety and insurance. The refusal of ride sharing apps to disclose the number of complaints against their ride quality is also a red flag that sends a clear signal against their business ethics.

Using the App

The Universal Taxi Dispatch app requires a download before it can be used. This can be done with the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store because both Android and iOS are fully supported by the app. All you need to do is sign in, locate a taxi nearby, and book it using your mobile device.

Of course, there are unique functions and perks to using this app. The first consideration is the availability of information on your taxi service vehicle and driver which you can request anytime. You can monitor the location of your taxi on a map at the touch of your screen. You can also make a call to your taxi driver via the app.

Another important feature of this app is the ability to file a complaint. It is simple because it comes as a regular feature in the app. Go to the customer support section and input any comments and suggestions you have for Universal Taxi. Rest assured, these are taken seriously and will reflect on the continued improvement of the taxi service.

report a problem

Sources:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/universal-taxi/id941145239?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apcurium.MK.UniversalTaxi&hl=en

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141106/river-north/cabdrivers-friendlier-than-usual-uber-lyft-competition-could-be-why

Insight

Why Chicago’s Taxi System is Being Overhauled

For the longest time, taxis have been the backbone of the urban commuting industry. It came with its own share of advantages and disadvantages though. Before, complaints about reckless driving and rude drivers gave the taxi a notorious name. So notorious, in fact, that when ride sharing apps came into the picture, the preference of commuters quickly went to the newcomers. It was a mess after that, with taxi companies suing the city and ride sharing apps standing firm on their new-found market.

Taxi Overhaul
Even without the bickering, though, ride sharing apps sent a clear signal of dominance to taxi companies across Chicago. If traditional taxis wanted to compete on the same level, then it had to play the ride sharing app’s game. With this, Universal Taxi Dispatch has released its new app. This app is meant to make the advantages of using a taxi more felt by its users. It promises total convenience and all the safety regulations, from qualified drivers to safe cars, that government laws mandate.

App Features
The updated taxi system that now makes use of apps has plenty of neat features for you. You simply have to go to the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store to download the Universal Taxi Dispatch App. Almost all of the Android devices can handle this app. For iPhone users, the app is optimized for iPhone 5 use. IOS 6 or higher is needed to run this app. After logging in, you book a taxi that is in your area, and wait for your service to arrive. You can monitor where your ride is on the real-time map provided. In here, you can also get an estimate for your total fare based on your pickup point and destination. Safety is also ensured because all driver and car details will be displayed on your screen. You can also call the taxi driver directly for good measure. There are also a couple of novel app features available. One of them is that you can now specify the kind of vehicle you prefer. This comes in extra handy when you also want to use another feature which is specifying the number of passengers in the ride. Lastly, feedback options are available for your use. Taxis are bound by government rules with regard to safety. Any misconduct can result in penalties and fines (credit brittany). These kinds of restrictions, of course, help guarantee a safe and hassle-free ride with every use of the app.

Sources:
http://alternativeto.net/software/u-taxi-dispatch/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/universal-taxi/id941145239?mt=8 http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141106/river-north/cab-drivers-friendlier-than-usual-uber-lyft-competition-could-be-why