Credit cards will be accepted by taxi drivers

Boston Cab Dispatch, Metro Cab and the Independent Taxi Operators Association signed contracts with New York-based Creative Mobile Technologies to put self-swipe credit card payment systems in their 1,266-member taxis. The devices are expected to be installed by April.

The technology will enable passengers to pay the fare in less than three seconds by themselves. They can choose between swiping their credit cards and tapping the new “tap and go” cards against the wireless devices. 

Special 10.5-inch touch-screens will be showing a total of the fare. Moreover, they will be providing access to news and entertainment network including Boston-specific information, and GPS-powered Google maps with high-level surface views of Boston and more detailed street-level information both for consumers and drivers.

Creative Mobile Technologies is announced to be covering the costs of the equipment, installation, maintenance and services. 

Moreover, Brett Barenholtz has mentioned, Boston Cab Dispatch is going to update devices so that to allow cab drivers to press a button when they arrive for a pickup that would prompt a computer to call the waiting customer to inform them the cab has arrived.