While I'm writing about my fabulous adventures abroad, sitting in a sub-basement at AELTC, I couldn't help but rant about Zingo, a cab service offered here in London. Here's how it works:
- I dial 08700700700 (don't know how UK spacing works, sorry) and a voice prompt says "Welcome to Zingo Taxi, we are looking for a taxi in your area..."
- A moment later, I'm connected directly to the cab driver nearest to me, via mobile-phone based GPS/location awareness goodness.
- (barely decipherable English accent) "Hello, where are you?"
- (me) "I'm at the corner of Church and Somerset, Wimbledon Gate 5"
- (James Bond) "Brilliant!. I'm just around the corner, be there in a jif. Where you going?"
- (me) "The swanky hotel across town"
- (cab guy) "Ok, the key is...'Newton' "
Literally seconds later, a London cab appears, and I flag him down and recite the key (British secret agent-style: Wismar, Andy Wismar) and get in and on my way. I assume the 'key' is for authentication, so some other bloke can't steal my Zingo, which is actually a pretty nice little system.
It has worked out fabulously the last few days, and I can't wait until the day all taxi cabs work this way. A truly useful application of location-based mobile phone services.
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