Keep An Eye On - CityCab plans launch of wireless interactive service for drivers and passengers - Brief Article

Business Asia, July, 2001

Singaporeans may soon able to check their e-mails and surf the internet from the back of a taxi. CityCab, the island's second biggest taxi company, plans to launch what it says is the world's first wireless interactive service for drivers and passengers by the end of the year, rolling it out through its 5000 car fleet by 2003.

Jointly developed by Hewlett-Packard and Ericsson's Cyberlab, Project Escalade would help manage the cars, facilitate bookings, and give drivers route and traffic information. CityCab says the system is designed to make service more efficient, and e-mail and internet access were by-products which may be introduced, depending on demand. By the end of this year, CityCab plans to have installed and test run HP's handheld PCs in 500 cabs. CityCab's sister companies in Britain, Computer Cab and Datacab, will also introduce the system once it has been tried in Singapore.