A brand new ride-hailing app entitled ‘Go Taxi IOW’ is launching on the Isle of Wight this December, allowing users to see the nearest registered taxi and hail them from their smartphone.
Go Taxi is revolutionising the booking of a local taxi service. Customers can now use their mobile app to call a car, pay for the ride and even rate the driver.
Kevin Barton and business partner Mark Stafford are behind the Uber-style service. The company is due to launch this month with drivers already on board to pick up passengers over the Christmas period.
Mark says:
“In this age of increasing technology we all want an easier, safer and more secure method to book a taxi. We want to know who the driver is, what the registration of the car is and when it will arrive.
“Why have somebody answer all the calls when you can have an app directly devoted to booking a taxi, rather than calling three or four times to get through to somebody.”
With over 20 years of experience in the local marketplace and app technology backgrounds, Kevin and Mark have used their knowledge to develop the service. The duo hope that Go Taxi will be able to have around 100 licensed drivers to operate, and will pay a small booking fee of each fare they take rather than a percentage of payment.
Mark adds:
“The feedback has been very positive, all the taxi drivers we have spoken with have said count me in”.
The app will be available to download on iOS and Android from the first week of December, with customers able to specify if they want a female or male driver and be able to store emergency numbers.
Passengers, or riders as they are referred to by Go Taxi, will be able to insert their destination and receive a fixed quote, then select an available car which will alert the driver and show journey map and time of arrival.
The app is now available to download on Android and iOS by searching ‘GO Taxi IOW’.
For more information visit https://gotaxis.co/.
5 taxis, if you don’t include the one in the middle of the Solent. It’s not exactly taking the Island by storm, although the one in the Solent might be useful when the ferries aren’t running.
Dont be so negative. Give them time. Well done to them for having a go.
Hi Paul, many thanks for your feedback, we have only just launched and are currently in the process of verifying over 80 drivers who will be added to the platform by the end of the week. Would love to hear your feedback of the APP @ [email protected]
Well, good luck. I’m used to Uber taxi’s and think it’s a great idea.
I’m tempted to book a taxi now just to see one of them move. The one in the Solent is very disconcerting though, has anyone actually called a lifeboat?
So will be there own taxis or just ones they are subcontracting in ???
Hi Shaun, we are currently on boarding all of the existing taxi companies on the island to create a larger network of available taxis from one central location
Are the taxis bring used going to be subcontracted in or are they owned and licensed by the council ??
Hi Shaun, only licensed taxi driver
I’m sorry but this article made me laugh. I know the statistics of taxis available on the Isle of Wight at specific times. 100 haha. Even the largest taxi companies here struggle at certain times, i.e school runs, the festival and the scooter weekend.
Good luck as you are going to need it.
Thank you for your feedback and we agree it is currently very hard to book a taxi, hence why we have launched the service. We are currently in the process of on boarding 80 drivers so are hoping to exceed this number quite quickly and provide a larger coverage of drivers in easy to book one place
Haha, someone did this before named “my taxi iow” and never worked which doesn’t shock me. Honestly, if this can be done correctly with a neat design and doesn’t look cheap, I’ll be impressed.
Hi Dan, hopefully we have achieved this, would love to get you feedback, please download from https://gotaxis.co/app and provide your feedback to [email protected]
You can never get a taxi on this island after midnight or they will not answer phones tried many times , if you want one to catch first ferry they ask for a stupid fare , as they have to get out of bed
Hi Margaret, hopefully this is where we can help, especially with those early morning rides. Thanks
I’m a licensed taxi driver myself on the Island but only just found about about this from this article.
Hi Mark, please download the driver APP via https://gotaxi.co/driverapp and upload your taxi license documentation to become approved.
correct link should be https://gotaxis.co/driverapp
What a load of rubbish someone trying to make money but not do the work
Some people love moaning… That’s all. Let’s hope the app will pick up and everyone can benefit – taxi drivers, people and app developers who must have put a lot of effort in building it!
Thank you for your positive feedback
Great app worked superbly. Well done guys.
What a pity people find it necessary to post negative comments.. I use Uber on the mainland and hope tis worked as well. I wish you every success. Well done for the initiative, good luck.
Thank you for your positive feedback