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Last Updated: Mar 26th, 2006 - 13:41:45 |
(NUI) - For busy people who need to get from place to place quickly, having to carry cash when taking a taxi can be an inconvenience. Taking the time to find and visit an ATM machine is a barrier for travelers who need to reach an important destination.
Fortunately, riding a taxi or limousine will become more convenient and entertaining with the installation of the e-Port, a card-reading device which will enable riders to use their credit cards to pay for their trip and have access to the latest news and information en route via an LCD screen situated in the back seat.
Although some taxis and limousines already have credit card capabilities, they are likely equipped with a hand-held credit card device that is given to the passenger for a signature at the end of the trip. The new card reader, developed by USA Technologies Inc., will be situated in the front of the car. Drivers will swipe the card at the beginning of the trip and give the customers a receipt after they reach their destination.
The new device will also increase safety for drivers, according to Peter Roman, president of the United Taxi Alliance.
"E-Port, with its ... cashless payment technology, will immediately and dramatically improve security because there is no need for cash transactions," Roman said.
Along with convenience, the device's wireless features will provide entertainment value. Passengers will be able to check news, weather and sports during their ride.
"E-Port will change the way people, including the riding public, view public transportation," said Stephen P. Herbert, president and chief operating officer at USA Technologies. "Everything, including how a passenger pays for the fare to how they inform and entertain themselves during the ride, will be vastly improved."
Through the e-Port, advertisers will be able to reach a new audience as consumers travel to their destinations. This will potentially increase revenue by providing a new outlet for companies to promote their products and services.
The e-Port is slated for gradual installation into 15,000 vehicles in New York beginning in January 2002. There are about 6,300 taxi companies and 1,200 limousine companies in the United States. Each year, an estimated 1.4 billion people ride taxi cabs; limousines transport about 400 million passengers.
For more information, visit the USA Technologies Web site at www.usatech.com.
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