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Lets go to Crete, a bit more south.
let's talk from our reporter, Marios Dionelis, who just got into a taxi.
you might wonder what's so special about this - everyone rides taxis!
however, this is a different taxi - and Marios will tell us how it's different. Good morning Marios!
Good morning Vasili from Heraclion. The weather is still fine here so we have other stuff to look at.
This ia a Super Taxi with many technological innovations. When you ride this taxi you can do anything!
You can pay by credit card, you can book your flight or ferry tickets,
you will soon be able to get a virtual tour of the city you are in and of the places you are passing by
you can use the taxi wifi to surf the web, check your emails, anything you would do in your office!
- why not spend the whole day in the taxi!
- possible, but expensive!
- do all these services cost more to the passenger?
-No. The taxi fare does not change.
This system is also available in 100 more taxis in Heraclion, and very soon it will be available all over Greece.
Let's talk to our driver Mr. Aris Psarakis who will tell us more about the system and how it works.
Good Morning Mr. Psarakis
- Good morning - Good morning
We see that there is a screen on the dashboard - I see that you are browsing our TV station's website, right?
Exactly. We are using the device's 3G connection to surf the web, we are now connected with SKAI's website.
We can also offer this internet connection to our passengers via WiFi so they can work or surf while in the taxi.
- So he can read his email, surf the web, right?
Exactly. But this is simple, anyone can offer it. If we go on and have a look at the other functions of the system
we can have a look at the fleet management function of the application. This is how our HQ contacts us and informs us about available rides.
This means that when a customer calls our HQ to request a taxi, our agent types the address in her computer
and the request is sent to SuperTaxi servers. The server then locates the closest taxis based on a special alogorith, and sends a route request to each one.
The taxi drivers then receive the request on their screen, and can decide whether they want the ride or not.
- so the system knows where evey taxi is, and can choose the closest ones?
-Exactly. Automated fleet management.
The next feature is that our customers can pay the ride by credit card
if our passenger is on the way to the airport we can check-in for his flight and print his boarding pass
so he can go directly to baggage drop-off and avoid the long lines at checkin!
- so you can print the flight tickets of the passengers on the way to the airport
Exactly. This is why supertaxi can offer innovative services to many different types of customers.
From the old lady that will call us to pay her electricity bills, either by cash or credit card
and any other utility bill, telecom bill, credit card bill, etc
- so the taxi goes to the house of the customer, and the customer can pay his bills to the taxi driver?
Exactly, So he avoids the long queues at the bank or the utility office and never has to leave his home.
We can also issue an electronic invoice for the fare if our passenger is a business passenger and
either print the invoice in the taxi or send him the invoice by email
- Passengers can also enjoy a virtual tour of the city they are in?
- Yes they can. This feature is not yet ready but it will be soon. In the meantime, you can have a look at the city maps via
Google maps, since the taxi is always online
On this map the passenger can see his route through the city and pins with places of interest
along with audio and video in the passengers language with historical and cultural information about the city and the route.
this makes the ride much more interesting and relaxed, and helps the city showcase it's history and cultural monuments.
-Impressive!
This system is installed on 100 taxis in Heraclion and will soon be installed in more taxis in Crete and the rest of Greece will follow.
It is developed by a Greek company, and funded in part by a European funding program called
helps taxi owners and drivers as well as other companies to develop mobile applications to help them with their job.
It is very hopefull that greek companies and greek developers can create such innovative products and services
that have the quality and innovation to be exported internationally.