http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/digital-dispatchs-tlc-smartcab-gps-taxi-solution/ Engadget Comments for Digital Dispatch's TLC SmartCab GPS taxi solution http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/digital-dispatchs-tlc-smartcab-gps-taxi-solution/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/digital-dispatchs-tlc-smartcab-gps-taxi-solution/Mar 31st 2007 10:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/digital-dispatchs-tlc-smartcab-gps-taxi-solution/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/digital-dispatchs-tlc-smartcab-gps-taxi-solution/
The auto-logging feature is great for those of us (wich is 95% of all cabbies) who are 1099'ers and have a hell of a time keeping track of fares. The GPS system I'm a bit leery of, since I have yet to find a decent GPS unit that is quick to input info on the fly without irritating fares who think you're just "stupid" for not memorizing every inch of a city like Phoenix, LA or Chicago like the back of your hand.

As far as theift is concerned, that won't be a problem. Now VANDALISM is a vaild issue. Most criminals who target taxicabs are so technologically illiterate they wouldn't know how to use it or what to do with it, but it SURE looks fun to slice up with a razor blade or Tag up "gansta" style with a sharpie.

My only concern is cost. Do they have an average market value for these units, and will they only be available at "fleet" prices or can the independent drivers buy direct from manufacturer? I can EASILY see a retrofit of one of these systems adding anywhere from 15% to 40% to a day's lease cost for those who don't own their own cabs. And, do they still use the standard radio-based data transfer or have they gone to a cellular-based transponder? If it's using the current system most cab navcoms use, streaming video and auto-logging will take FOREVER to download.]]>Apr 1st 2007 3:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/digital-dispatchs-tlc-smartcab-gps-taxi-solution/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/digital-dispatchs-tlc-smartcab-gps-taxi-solution/Apr 2nd 2007 1:23AM