ONE telephone number is all you need to remember if you need to call a taxi from next week.
Call 6-3425-222 or tap out the alphabetical prompter 6-DIAL-CAB.
The initiative is part of a transport masterplan announced early this year to make commuting a lot easier.
It arose from feedback from cab customers - especially tourists - who cannot remember the numbers for the half a dozen taxi firms here.
It is, however, not a super dispatch system that can scour Singapore's taxi population of 24,000 to locate an empty one nearest to you.
By using the common number, commuters are channelled to all the taxi firms' call centres, one at a time. If the first cab operator's call centre does not take your call in 10 seconds, the system diverts you to the second one, and then the third.
If the third call is unsuccessful, you will be asked to try again. If you do, the system will recognise it is your second attempt and connect you to the next three call centres.
Asked if the new common number system would be replaced by a 'smarter' system in future, the Land Transport Authority said no.
'The common taxi booking number system is a permanent facility to make it easier for taxi commuters to book a taxi,' a spokesman said.
The LTA roped in SingTel to develop the system, for $90,000.
Ms Tammy Tan, spokesman for ComfortDelGro, whose fleet makes up 60 per cent of the cab population, noted that Singaporeans were quite familiar with the firm's taxi booking number.
'There is, however, one group of commuters who may be confused with the different taxi booking numbers and they are the tourists. For them, the common booking number will be of help.'
Commuters who are familiar with the numbers of the various operators can continue calling them directly.
Source: The Straits Times July 17, 2008
First Taxi Company to prompt : Comfort !!!
Follow by maybe SMRT
Then TransCab .
Advantage Comfort .
KNN if call not answered in 10 secs , then the system switch to 2nd taxi company ..... then too bad , 2nd and 3rd taxi company , i would say , no chance !
Spent $90,000 for something , i would think , not very useful .
Why not useful ?
Cos the number not easy to remember , that's why .
When the tourist try to figure out for this booking number , if a Comfort zoom past him , with a 6552-1111 infront of him , which number u think she/he will dial ?
Not very clever the number , serious .
If the number is something like 6-666-6666 , ya , then this line is useful .
My conclusion : This number will go into the grave in a very short time .
6552-111 will still be the No.1 Call-A-Cab number .
existing thread available..