Taxi Driver Online

Just heard that ComCab have taken control of Zingo in London. They now have DataCab, CallaCab and LocalCab, If I was runng Dial a Cab and Radio Taxis, I would be getting very worried indeed.

It was my hope that one of the large LPH circuits would have got it.

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Happy to be legit.

Comcab have done the Licensed Taxi Trade in London a great service in buying Zingo, It keeps it out of the minicabs hands, not that they could use it anyway.

or getting ready for retiring to the south of spain with the big fat cheque from selling it to them......

how do you work that out?
delgro run minicabs!

not that it would be legal.

Cab firm rides in to rescue Zingo

LOSS-MAKING Manganese Bronze has finally given up on its mobile phone taxi-hailing business Zingo, selling the revolutionary technology to Singapore-owned Computer Cab for just £1.

Black cab manufacturer Manganese Bronze has sunk around £13m in development costs and trading losses into Zingo, a service that allows punters to be put directly in touch with their nearest cabbie when they make a phone call to a central number.

Manganese's problem has been that too few cabbies were prepared either to give the service a try or sign up after being given a trial period. Losses at Zingo in its last full year spiralled to more than £4m.

Today, however, it emerged that Singapore transport group ComfortDelGro, the owner of Computer Cab, has come to the rescue, taking over the Zingo operations for a nominal sum.

The deal, under a 20-year exclusive licence, is aimed at boosting business for Computer Cab's 3000 taxi drivers who will answer any calls that Zingo's 1150 signed-up users cannot pick up. It also gives Computer Cab access to a database of 100,000 Zingo customers.

'The 20-year agreement is subject to indefinite-five-year renewals at the sole discretion of Computer Cab. A 50-50 profit arrangement has been agreed upon,' ComfortDelgro said in a statement.

The Zingo service will be integrated into Computer Cab's existing fleet infrastructure which also includes ComCab, DataCab, Call-a-Cab and local taxi groups.

Zingo was launched three years ago after spending £8m on developing the technology, but suffered, it is now admitted, from a lack of economies of scale as a standalone business.

Launched as an attempt to get Manganese out of a hole of falling new-taxi sales, it was initially marketed at women as a safe way of getting home or around London at a time when there were rising fears about unlicensed mini-cab operators.

ComfortDelGro says a takeover by Computer Cab will reduce overheads and provide a better service for existing customers.

It expects revenues to rise as more calls are fulfilled by Computer Cab's taxi fleets.

The Singapore company was established in 2003 with the merger of the Comfort Group and DelGro Corporation.

Its businesses include taxi, bus, rail, car rental and leasing, automotive engineering and maintenance services, inspection, test and assessment services, learner drivers' instruction services and outdoor advertising.

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Comcab dont run minicabs, the LTDA forbid it

But the parent company does in Scotland.

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IDFIMH

I'm only concerned with ComCab and London, Delgro can use kids as chimney sweeps if they want, not my business.

It's all over and inside 'Taxi' newspaper, seems comcab have cut themselves a very good deal.

Villager,
how the hell do you work that out?

zingo is a black hole that LTI poured money into. a good deal? Jesus its a deal they could well do without.

zingo is frankly dead in the water, it was devised to sell taxis not give a service.