App Of The Day: ubiCabs

Location-based taxi finder aims to make it a lot easier to get from A to B in London.

The ubiCabs app has officially launched on Android and iOS, following months of beta testing.

It uses geolocation technology to determine the user's whereabouts, allowing them to choose from the nearest and cheapest cab firms in the surrounding area before booking their preferred choice.

Once the reservation has been made, users will receive a text message to confirm the price of the journey, as well as the driver's contact details, which can also be found in the app alongside the vehicle registration as part of a safety element.

The location-based tech will then track the car on the map, allowing the user to determine how far away the driver really is, rather than relying on lies from the cab office to be told repeatedly that the driver is five minutes away.

Another interesting feature of the app is its social sharing functionality, which enables the user to share their journey on Facebook and Twitter, or alternatively via text on a one-to-one basis so that a loved one can be relieved by being provided with all of the relevant details.

Lorenzo Caffarri, co-founder of ubiCabs, said: "The private hire industry is worth £2.6 billion annually and every day 150,000 minicab journeys are made in London alone.

"It’s big business but we know from talking with minicab firms, that up to 45 per cent of their cars are empty at any one time. This is incredibly inefficient: it’s lost business for the drivers and their firms whilst adding to congestion. By using our expertise in logistics ubiCabs aims to deliver a marked improvement for both minicab firm and passenger."

Jay Patel, co-founder, said: "A minicab’s job is to get passenger from one location to another safely using the most direct route.

"It goes without saying that all the cabs on our platform are security-checked, but we are adding additional peace of mind and user-based scores for reliability. In the same way that sellers on eBay thrive based on their reputation and levels of customer service, ubiCabs is aiming to create a community where the best and most reliable minicab firms prosper."

The app will also introduce Facebook tracking soon, and BlackBerry and Windows Phone versions are in the works, while the Android and iOS versions are free.

ubiCabs covers Greater London including airport runs, while the form is also looking to extend across the rest of the UK.

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