Iqaluit cab company launches app
Taking a cab in Iqaluit? There's an app for that.
Caribou Tuktu Cabs, the city's largest taxi company, launched an app on Wednesday that works similarly to Uber and Lyft.
According to the Google Play app store, the app allows customers to order and track taxis, and choose their preferred payment method, on their smartphones.
Iqaluit doesn't have a public transportation system. The goal, said Idris Omar, Caribou Tuktu Cabs spokesperson, is to "enhance the city's transportation."
"It's more safe, it's faster and it's reliable," said Omar. He said the tracking system makes taking taxis safer.
By way of example, he recalled a mother who requested a cab to Apex through the app for her daughter a few days ago.
"She can see that the taxi is picking up her daughter from the address that she requested, and then can see that they are coming towards Apex, and she was able to track everything," said Omar.
Passengers can specify the type of vehicle they want and alert the driver if they're travelling with pets. The hope is to eventually add a payment system as well, so passengers can pay for rides directly through the app.
Omar said drivers don't get the passengers' personal information, such as email addresses or phone numbers, when they use the app.
Customers still have the option of calling dispatch for a cab.
Omar wouldn't say exactly how much the company paid for the app, which is offered by Mega Taxi Inc.
"It was a was good amount of money," he said.
At a taxi committee meeting in March, Caribou Tuktu Cabs' owner said the company has invested $100,000 into new technology and updating its fleet.
The cab company has asked the city to increase taxi fares from $7 to $8.
City council has delayed the vote on the fare hike until it has more information from Iqaluit cab companies.
