Taxi-Taxi@SG scores with 50,000 downloads in the first month

Despite being criticised for not allowing bookings to be made, the Land Transport Authority (LTA)'s Taxi-Taxi@SG app has garnered more than 50,000 downloads since it was launched a month ago.

This figure is comparable to the download rates of other taxi apps. For instance, ComfortDelGro's taxi booking app had an average of 42,000 downloads a month last year. 

ComfortDelGro's app is used around 1.5 million times a month.

However, usage figures of Taxi-Taxi@SG were unavailable as it does not allow bookings to be made. Instead, it is a platform that allows cabbies and commuters to 'find' each other.

The Straits Times reported that the app does not seem to be popular with taxi drivers. Most said they already have more call bookings than they can handle, through their company-supplied dispatch system or other third-party booking apps.

The operation of the app wasn't as smooth as expected when the local papers tested it recently on Android devices. The entire map of Singapore pops up and the user needs to zoom in on his location, which means he needs to be familiar with Singapore. The app also seems to lag, and requires the screen to be refreshed regularly.

The experience with iOS devices is much better, with the user's location popping up immediately.

Another issue is that as cabs are mostly on the move, even if the user walks over to the indicated location, it is doubtful that the cab will still be present after he reaches there.

Occasional taxi commuter Roger Tan suggested the LTA app to be tied to designated taxi stands to be more useful.

Meanwhile, a poll conducted by third-party taxi booking app Easy Taxi found that most commuters have an average of three cab apps on their phones. The survey, which collated responses from more than 1,900 commuters between November and December last year, also showed that nearly one-third of them have at least four apps installed.

Less than one percent of respondents stick to one app.