NYC Taxi Apps Join Forces to Simplify Customer Experience

New York City's yellow and green taxis took a large step forward a few years ago when they introduced mobile point-of-sale technology, allowing riders to easily pay using their smartphone. Although technology of this strain is still gaining a foothold in society, it’s integration into taxis has already received praise for adding a level of security as well as freeing up a significant amount of time that would’ve otherwise been wasted fumbling for cash or cards (and waiting for those payment processes to finish).

However, there are actually two competing apps and payment systems that have spread to many taxis, forcing customers to download two apps, and each time determine the one that is being used in the taxi they happen to be riding in. Creative Mobile Technologies (CMT) has an app called RideLinQ, and Verifone uses an award-winning app called Way2ride.

Realizing the hassle this generates, the two companies have joined forces to make both systems compatible with each other. This way a customer can use either app to pay at a point-of-sale station without issue. The enterprises simply receive a cut of the payment if it is their system employed in a particular instance.

“While convenience has always been synonymous with New York City's iconic safe, comfortable and affordable taxis, it is now even more top of mind for today's New York City taxi passengers. With this initiative, we heeded the call from our passengers by providing them with new payment tools to enhance the riding experience,” said Jason Poliner, Vice-Chairman of Creative Mobile Technologies, LLC. “The universal functionality of both apps allows users – for the first time – total freedom to take any of the almost 20,000 taxis and Street Hail Liveries on New York City streets and know that they can pay quickly, confidently, and securely with our app.”

The benefits of this universal cross-functionality will soon not be limited to New York City. Both CMT and Verifone operate similar systems throughout the country, and plan to work together in the future to simplify the lives of taxi drivers and riders in as many places as possible. This important step towards mobile payment integration may be a signal for other industries to realize that the opportunities and benefits of competition do not need to take precedence over customer satisfaction.