Taxi Driver Online

Reply from T.
If only thoughts and ideas were allocated in the same way, Sussex would be at the front of the queue he has been running on empty for years.

T,
Dont you even bother to listen. I am invloved in two companies who use GPRS. The first one will have "6000 TAXIS" on the system by the end of the summer, the 2nd system has 1000 TAXIS on it just now.

I have a GPRS Taxi Data Dispatch Terminal in my car which I use for testing.

I use GPRS on a daily basis for my email and other support activities.

But you seem to be implying that I dont like GPRS, that is NOT true at all. What I am saying is that PMR is NOT DEAD, there is still a great demand for PMR and there will be for a considerable time.

Systems are developing into hybrids which offer PMR/GPRS, if folk want to go down this route then fine but its THIER choice, the same as you went fully GPRS, it was YOUR choice.

So if you want to debate the pros/cons of both PMR and GPRS then its fine with me but cut out the [edited by admin] little remarks and digs.

regards

Yeh, people still buy fountain pens, they are nice to use very tactile and understandable, but no-one uses one at work. PMR was great in its time but things have moved on. GPRS, Blutooth, WiFi etc are all "radio" but not in the way you imply, they are not just different uses of radio waves its a whole new science, its like comparing a 1950 adding machine to a modern computer. PMR will always be limited by range, power consumption, frequency band width etc, etc.. R & D in the PMR field is declining or ceased, it will never have the capacity to match the new formats. VOIP, G3 and super G3 are the new tools, PMR will never be able to integrate on a viable level. I cannot believe anyone would invest in a new PMR based system today, its at the limit of its usefulness. Changing over from one to the other is a big step and a big investment, moving from pen, paper and voice radio, to a dispatch system is an easier decision than replacing your ongoing outdated PMR with GPRS, but sooner or later you will have to upgade to stay competative. The PMR hybid GPRS systems are only a step over system, a way for the old school companies to hang on to their customers whilst they develope their own fully GPRS products. They dismissed the XDA based systems as toys, gimmicks a passing fad, they were slow to see the potential and are a lap behind. If you like PMR stick with it, your money your choice.

Yet again you did not read what I had written. You still seem to think I dont like GPRS. Ah well never mind.

Just as a matter of intrest T wot kind of benefit would i have if i moved from pmr 2 gprs i have a company with wel over 200 hundred drivers i have a system that is paid off my data coverage in my working area is fine transmission failure of abt 3% yes i did have voice problems but that is almost sorted i dont pay any site rental wer my data aerials are situated
i know how much i pay for land line rentals etc & it is peanuts compared to if i bought gprs pda s with airtime i dont really need sat nav on my data units cuz most of my drivers have their own sat navs so would it be better for me to move from pmr to gprs T?

Hi Labraiz

The benefits for you to move to GPRS depends on your existing issues (if any) with your PMR and your future expansion plans which your existing PMR system could / or not address. If you don't have any issue then it would be madness to move to any other system / technology. But if your current system restricts you from growth, then it is better to raise those technical issues and debate on whether GPRS could help in resolving any of them. Otherwise nothing would or should make you change to GPRS if there is no problem with your current system. Many companies have benefited from moving to GPRS based systems in different ways. As they say horses for .....

For your information, Yorkshire Police had some problems with radio coverage in some part of Yorkshire with their TETRA system and as a result, they are uing Cordic System to communiate with their fleet over GPRS. They now plan to expand it further. You will find, many policemen / women carry their TETRA radios alongside of their GSM mobile phones which is interesting. TETRA has some features which were designed for Emergency forces which are not available on GSM but unfortunately, its reliability has not been matched with GSM yet.

Don

Reply from T.
Its much more difficult for bigger companies to switch, so big companies tend to lag behind in new technology. PMR is in decline R&D is going on GPRS systems and in a similar way VOIP is the growth area in telecoms. I think eventually all large companies will switch over because the new systems will offer more and more facilities and features with greater reliability and consistancey. The customers, the public are quick to take up new technology and will expect the companies they deal with to offer compatable service. Look at the growth of SatNav, thousands of cars fitted with SatNav that never go more than 20 miles from home. Its the "must have" accessory. Mobile phones change by the month you will need a system that is capable of integrating with the advancing technology. Every year you should re-assess the technology you are using and look closley at what's in the market.

Install Cordic - it works well - give them a share in your company - for that is how expensive it is. Whatever you do - don't give up a decent voice PMR channel or you will regret it.

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"Where to, Guv'?. Na sorry not going my way"

I don't think I would fully trust a system on auto dispatch.
As a controller I am always looking ahead at what jobs ive got coming up and what drivers will be clearing where. If I have a driver dropping off at joe blogs str and I have a job there for 15 mins time, I call him and send him the job, it's better than comming back empty. Also, if I have a pick up at an airport at say 10pm and a driver gets a job going that way I can send him the pick up even if it means waiting maybe 30 mins at the airport.
Maybe i'm old fashioned or not seen the right system, but I think you cannot beat an experienced controller.

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stressed controller!!!

Reply from T.
Whether or not you consider it expensive is relative to what you are comparing it to and what you want from the system. Cheap is rarley the best option and if price is you only critiera whan buying equipement for your business then you will not have much of a business. Buy the best you can afford, the tough thing is to find what's best. Before I chose a system I costed everthing over 5 years and tried to compare like for like and tried to avoid the bells & whistles that I did not need. That way I could see the introductory offers and "free trials" in true prospective. I looked at the core entry level system and then factored in the additional elements that I thought would be cost effective to my business. To get the right system for your business takes a lot of work, don't just listen to the sales patter, their eye is on the sales commission not so much on the best solution for you. When I was satisfied that I had researched the project fully I had a easy choice, the Cordic sytem was head & shoulder above the rest, their system is the benchmark you will judge every other system against what theirs will do. As for give them a share in your company I find that a strange way to look at it, do you look at all your suppliers that way. We kept are PMR radio more for re-assurance than anything else, some drivers use it to chat but most don't turn them on unless we prompt them to do so using the Cordic message facility. A number have said they will not fit PMR when they change cars next as it takes space and is rarely used.

Will i see anybody at the bt tower london next wednesday when auriga & bt are getting together to launch this new project on gprs mind you i think its by invites only oh well its abt time i got a free lunch out of auriga

I hear Auriga are having real problems getting their XDA's to work.

Three years ago they told me the industry would not want XDA's, now they are having to play catch up.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

Tom i dont knw if they are having problems with the xda's but ive been told that a company in london is using them dont know how well they are working also spoke to someone at auriga who says that most of their clients at present have not asked for xda's & only smaller firms with abt 20-30 drivers are showing interest not the bigger outfits

Labraiz

I don't want to argue, but I really believe that in five years time people will be shaking their heads and saying ' I once went on a taxi forum and said PMR had a future'.

The costs are not excessive. An XDA gives value benefit. And the deals available means driver can save money on their own mobile phone costs.

The fact that Auriga feel the need to market a hybrid means they acknowledge demand for a product they ignored.

If you have a hybrid you accrue the cost of GPRS so just go the whole hog.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

Sounds like a great salesman doing their best again!

Didn't a lod of Auriga salesmen end up going to Cordic? Wonder if they are still singing the same tune, or now feel 'PMR is dead, long live the PDA (which don't allow drivers to speak to the office without joining the phone queue with all the customers)'!