Taxi app making its way to Cork

Award-winning taxi app Hailo is set to revolutionise taxi usage in the real capital when it is launched in the first three months of next year.

A spokesperson for the company, which recently won the Grand Prix at this year’s app oscars — The Appys — said it will launch in Cork in 2013.

“Hailo, the taxi app, is to launch to passengers in Cork by end of Q1 2013.

“Already successfully launched in Dublin, with over 100,000 passenger downloads and approaching 3,700 registered drivers, Hailo is currently recruiting Cork drivers that are interested in joining the network.

“Cork drivers can register by entering their details through the web form on hailo.ie,” a spokesperson said.

The company earns it revenues by receiving a small portion of that taxi fare in return for matching a nearby vacant taxi with a smartphone user. The nearest vacant taxi is then directed to the customer, cutting out the traditional waiting at taxi ranks.

The app is free to download from the iTunes app store and Google Play.

Cork will join an elite group of cities where Hailo already operates, including London, Toronto, Chicago, and Boston.

Hailo was founded by three London black cab drivers and three internet entrepreneurs. It is backed by Wellington Partners and Atomico Ventures, the investors in Spotify and founder of Skype, as well as Facebook backer Accel Partners.

In Dublin, the app has rapidly become Ireland’s largest taxi network, with 3,700 drivers signed up.

A second taxi app launched during the week in Dublin. The Taxi app allows users to scan a QR code or enter a five-digit number displayed in taxis.

The app then details the vehicle and driver information, as well as the passenger’s location, and sends this information as a text or email to the passenger’s selected recipient.