Everyone who is tired of waiting around for taxis that never seem to appear have been given reason for a little Christmas cheer — as the dawn of a GPS monitored system came a step closer to reality yesterday.
A contract has now been signed between the Bermuda Taxi Association’s dispatching company (BTA Dispatching) and Digital Dispatch Systems Inc. for a new wireless data dispatch system to be introduced into 300 of Bermuda’s taxis — around half the total number.
The new technology is able to match the closest cab to a waiting customer which should then result in less waiting around.
It will also mean that the dispatching company will be able to monitor all vehicles in real time.
Under the contract, BTA (Dispatching) Limited will purchase the turnkey wireless dispatch solution, which includes Vector 530 mobile data terminals and the PathFinder application.
Meanwhile Telecom Bermuda Ltd., based in Hamilton, will provide private radio communication support to the BTA.
Government has passed legislation requiring all of Bermuda’s 600 taxis to become GPS enabled by early February 2006 — a move previously rejected by the BTA.
However, in a press release yesterday, Michael Ray, President of the BTA, welcomed the development:
“We are very optimistic about the potential growth of the taxi industry and intend to work diligently and efficiently to ensure the success of our company.
“We found that we could make this new legislative requirement beneficial for the taxi owners by forming our own dispatching company that can keep the interests of taxi owners and operators on the forefront while implementing this technology.”
Charles Marshall, President for Telecom Bermuda said that it was Digital Dispatch’s reliability and long-term rapport with clients that had clinched the deal, and added that the technology had the potential to revolutionize areas beyond taxi hailing:
“The equipment used for this project also has the potential to be extended to other areas like the transit, trucking and some emergency services that we also provide communication support for.”
