Significant attention is now being paid on how the taxi industry’s effort to offer ‘good’ taxi service without refusing passengers will pay off.(image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — The taxi industry, which is opposing the introduction of ride-sharing ventures, is trying to innovate by introducing new services such as a taxi paging application and premium taxis.
This month, the ‘T-One’ taxi app will launch, which will compete against similar apps from Kakao Corp. and SK Telecom Co. Tago Solutions is also preparing to launch premium taxi services similar to Socar’s ‘Tada’.
Significant attention is now being paid on how the taxi industry’s effort to offer ‘good’ taxi service without refusing passengers will pay off.
T-one Mobility is a startup company that is jointly funded by four major taxi interest groups, the National Association of Private Taxi Transport Business, the National Association of Taxi Transport Business, the Federation of Taxi Unions, and the Korean Confederation of Taxi Union.
Each interest group has invested 5 percent to establish the company. The company will launch its smartphone-based T-one taxi application around January 20.
T-one Mobility is expected to recruit from 150,000 to 250,000 taxi drivers. It will first release the application to the drivers and then introduce the application to passengers the following week.
If T-one Mobility can recruit 250,000 taxi drivers, it will exceed the number of drivers for the Kakao Taxi service.
Since T-one Mobility is jumping into the industry later than other companies, it will cooperate with call centers. Even with applications generally used, half of taxi paging is done through call centers.
It will further introduce voice recognition systems and taxis for the disabled.
The most distinct difference between T-one Mobility and other taxi companies is that T-one taxi stands for ‘good’ taxi. With existing taxi services, a taxi is called only after the destination is entered.
However, there is no need to enter a destination when using the T-one application, which is a measure to prevent drivers from refusing calls.
The market sees the introduction of T-one Taxi as a challenge to Kakao, which has 10 million users and at the same time means to make profits in the fast-growing taxi industry.
Meanwhile, other taxi companies are differentiating themselves by introducing premium services. Tago Solutions is preparing to release a service called ‘WayGo’. When using this service, drivers cannot refuse passengers.
There is also a service for female users called ‘WayGo Lady’ to offer a safe and comfortable environment to female users.
Drivers who have completed a separate educational program for friendly service are allowed to join the service.
Unlike T-one Taxi, which is determined to become a rival of Kakao, Tago Solutions has joined hands with Kakao.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
