UberTaxi joins crowded third party taxi app market

Uber Technologies has launched its new taxi app - UberTAXI - in our island, drawing a cautious welcome from cabbies, reported The Straits Times. Uber, which started private car-sharing services here last year is offering a 25 percent fare discount to passengers until the end of the month.

UberTAXI joins Easy Taxi and GrabTaxi in an increasingly crowded third party taxi app market. Besides offering discounts to passengers, it is offering each new signee $5 - for every job drivers take on its app and go on to complete.

A poll of 20 taxi drivers here showed that most were willing to give the new app a test run although many have also aired concerns. However, a number of taxi drivers were unhappy with Uber for its controversial private car hiring service, which allows consumers to hire freelance drivers via their mobile phones.

The service has sparked concerns over passenger safety as well as protests from cab drivers in countries from the U.S.A to France, for the threat it poses to the livelihoods of taxi drivers.

Other taxi drivers said they were not familiar with Uber's payment system, although Uber Regional General Manager, Michael Brown, remains optimistic despite taxi drivers' concerns. He has clarified he is more than happy to clarify any doubts that taxi drivers have regarding payment. Drivers are paid weekly and their experience with private cars showed "no problem with their payment method", he added.

Mr. Brown also revealed new Uber users are also likely to try its other services, so the company's freelance drivers will also stand to gain from the widening pool of drivers, he said.