Perhaps the biggest threat to the traditional yellow taxi industry doesn’t come from the newly emerging competition, but from the simple fact that riders are searching for comfortable and convenient rides. Passengers are going to gravitate towards the service that fits these needs and offers them the ability to be productive, even while in the backseat of a taxi. This has led the taxi industry to search for improvements within the taxi experience that would draw in and keep their customers.
Like any service and business out there, the taxi industry took a good look at what was working well and what wasn’t. One area that received quite a bit of feedback from both drivers and passengers was the Taxi TV that has been embedded in the back of yellow taxi cabs across New York for a good decade. While the idea of having a tv in a taxi sounded like a good idea at the time, it slowly turned into something that annoyed passengers with their repetitive ads and inability to turn off or mute. To replace the tvs and to offer passengers a more desired high-tech experience, the taxi industry is rolling out a new gadget in 2017: tablets.
Starting in 2016, tvs will be removed from a number of taxis in New York City and Verifone Systems will instead install new 10-inch tablets that will completely change the way passengers enjoy a taxi ride. These high tech tablets will have a variety of apps that can provide an easy way to make a dining reservation or stream their favorite music on the way to the airport. Movie tickets can be reserved or a phone call can be made when needed. Whatever you can typically do on your own smartphone or tablet, you can do here.
These tablets will also offer tap-to-pay technology and have built-in USB chargers to conveniently charge a passengers smartphone. The credit card readers will accept mobile payments like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. The options are endless on this new gadget.
“I like to think of this as a dashboard for your taxi ride,” said Jason Gross, global head of product and marketing for taxi systems at Verifone. “It may just be the information you want or need to understand where you’re going, how much it’s costing, but it also gives you some tools.”
Drivers will also have access to a smaller 7-inch tablet that contains several safety features such as a security camera and a panic button. It will also provide an all-in-one meter, dispatch and navigation device and offer the most accurate fares.
This new tablet and technology is focused on providing a platform for the owners and operators of taxis to be connected with passengers who need transportation.
Verifone will be rolling out this new technology at the same that an e-hail app, Flywheel, has been allowed to be installed inside a New York City taxi in 12 years. Taxi drivers are excited for the possibilities of the new e-hail apps to help lift their competitiveness against Uber and Lyft. And while the value of taxi medallions in New York City have significantly decreased in the past couple of years, there is some hope to hold onto.
“I think the regulatory pendulum is swinging back,” Gross said. “They’re loosening up some on taxis and they’re cracking down some of the [transportation network companies].”
But the fact of the matter is that if taxi drivers want to remain competitive with Uber and other services that offer transportation, they are going to have to be innovative and continue to change and improve what they can offer. These new tablets and services are certainly a step in the right direction.
By Samantha
YellowCabNYCTaxi.com Staff Writer
You may also like
Meet The NYC Taxi Driver Who Has Driven The World’s Billionaires, Millionaires And Royals
NY House Dems call on city to bail out thousands of cab drivers suffering because of taxi medallion ‘crisis’
Port Authority proposes $4 ‘access fee’ for taxi trips to city airports
A passenger hijacked a taxicab for a joyride
New York Attorney General Accuses N.Y.C. of Fraud Over Taxi Crisis
The windshield view must be free of any device .
Two units needed :
Driver unit and passenger unit.
Passenger should be able to pay,print adjust volume and address input using voice , map or typing.
Driver must be given the option to record, take picture or call for assistance using GPS commends .TLC will be the only party that will have access to such data.
GPS must enforces a 45 minutes relieve time on drivers after 3 hours and half of driving by disabling the unit.
“New York City and Verifone Systems will instead install new 10-inch tablets that will completely change the way passengers enjoy a taxi ride.” …. Passengers are care about short taxi ride, not about taxi gizmos. Passengers have their own smart phones and tablets anyway!
Can anyone tell me what does this fhv doing here at this time? I am posting this live now happening. When guest come out with luggage this fhv driver speak with them, and he has good understanding with the door man who is working now
FHV and Uber as well Lyfts doing business everywhere in Manhattan and also in the boroughs. Taxi business completely undermined with Apps, and so many other ways. YellowTaxi cabbies are wondering what’s going on, besides of that they sitting in complete traffic jam. Fewer people taking yellow cabs, and that is killing the taxi business in NYC
Every cabdriver, just like this bird in the picture facing tremendous health risk! Sitting all day long in the cab, more than 8 hours also shortening life!
Why do we complain about something with no value in today’s market.it’s been now 7 years uber came on top of the taxi .and drivers still thinking uber is new .7 years is too much and nothing has been done for the future of drivers in new york..
let me say this ! as a driver I do not care what color or technology your cars carry on ! accidents don’t discriminate against type of the car or company you drive for..
I want rules and regulations that can force these companies into legal practices and that would be:
10 hours maximum work a day for all drivers and this hours must be within the 12 hour shift.
gps must be off for 35 minutes after 3 hours of driving..
fitness requirement for all drivers by registration with Gym.
Doctor visit every 4 month.
.if we apply just these rules no company will survive by paying lowest wages and kill the benefits for drivers.
you can’t operate a business just because you pay tax to the city..
But I blame the hunger of today’s drivers who have no idea about their civil and labor rights.they come here to pay the bills body and that is the trick they have no choice but chase money like bugs .the workforce in general is to blame for this mess.let them drive to death who cares ..god bless …they must work for free .freedom is not free.and this is not their country,,they wanna take cash back home and show off .these immigrants must work to death and pay bills only..don’t pay them more ..just lunch.
So to fix this problem,I want drivers to sit down and talk .
let talk let fix it ourselves,let just try,let build our biggest institution in nyc for hail and ehal business.
we are 40k drivers each driver msut donate 2000$ .every 4 years ..then we can hire lawers judges any one!!
we can lease anything.
are you ready to be strong and get full benefits package .
believe me we will be able to serve nyc for free and still make money..we will buy all medallions and ehails app…
we will hire samsung and apple ford toyota nissan…and mercedes companies..
but the problem of these cabies they can’t ,they have tightness in their brains they scare to win .
Every cabdriver should get this gadget > https://youtu.be/kou4cRI7r7A
Veriphone is garbage, only used by cheapskate Taxi Drivers.
I hope the TLC has a 10 hour limit for all TLC licensed drivers. The taxicab garages wiil have to go back to a commission based system. You have a bad day, they have a bad day.
With 50,0000 Uber cars, most days driving a cab sucks now.
An another thing for the wiseguy Uber drivers who think they’re going to get New Jersey OL plates to work more than 10 or 12 hours, the TLC has the technology to crack down on you too if you work in NYC !!!