toots wrote:
Is there anything to stop them having more than one App on the go other than the need for a different phone for each App?
Depends on your local authority if you can work for more than one firm at the same time. I understand with some local authorities, you have to submit your PH licence to your chosen operator, and you can work for them.
In London, you can work for as many operators - app based/traditional office-based as you like. As long as you've got access to your car's documents - i.e. MOT, PH licence, logbook, as you need these to submit copies of these to each operator you work for. Hence, if you drive a company car a company gives you (e.g. Addison Lee - and they're branded anyway), you won't have access to these documents, and can't use that car for other firms.
Most PH drivers in London are on more than one app anyway, and it makes sense to maximise your income in this way.
In London as far as I know there's: Uber, Wheely, Hailo, Bounce, Splyt, and Drivr (though they seem to have discontinued operations in London).
With regards to different phones. As far as I know, you can rent a phone from Uber and Bounce for a weekly fee (though it will be locked so only their own app works on it), or you can download their driver app onto your own phone.
The smaller, recent start ups expect you to work for more than one app/firm anyway, since they don't offer enough work to justify from working with them solely. (e.g. I only get an average 1 or 2 jobs a week from Bounce)