No money for a cab? No problem as phone giant launches 'pay by text message' service
It's something that can happen to anyone. Taking a cab for the late ride home, you suddenly realise that the crisp £20 note you thought was tucked safely in your wallet was actually spent during your lunch hour.
Or even worse, you discover halfway through your journey that you've left your purse - and your bank card - in the office.
So how will you pay for the cab fare? Will you be unceremoniously kicked to the kerb by your irate driver and left to walk the rest of the way home?
Well, not necessarily - as long as you've managed to keep hold of your mobile phone.
Good call: Passengers will be able to pay for a cab ride using their mobile phones - and get their phones charged up at the same time
For telecoms giant Vodafone is today introducing a new way to settle up at the end of a cab ride in London - by text.
Hundreds of company-branded taxis will begin providing the service in the capital, allowing forgetful commuters to reach their destination without the need to reach for their wallets.
More...
Tap-and-go payments are on the move to a shop near you
And the seriously absent-minded who discover their mobiles are drained of power need not fear - the Union Jack-decorated cabs are also fitted with charger units, allowing you to re-charge your phone on the move.
To pay by phone, passengers simply have to text the word 'taxi', followed by the vehicle number and the amount they wish to pay, which is then charged to their phone account. The service is free and users will not be charged for the text.
Vodafone UK Chief Executive Guy Laurence said: 'We are committed to offering London the best possible network. We have already made hundreds of improvements to increase coverage, capacity and reliability to ensure Londoners can always stay in touch with friends and family.
'Now with our fantastic fleet of Union Jack cabs and their on-board chargers which anyone can use, all Londoners will be able to see our continuing commitment to the capital.'
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... z1LKTyLA6n
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