Young entrepreneurs launch Bristol taxi app

THREE friends who met at university have launched a brand new business based around a revolutionary new app they have designed and built themselves.

The idea is to make it easier and more convenient for people to order a taxi and 50 cabbie drivers in Bristol have already signed up for the project – which has been call Tapsi.

Imran Khan, Adam Clarke and Marcus Veira met at the University of Bath and have been working on the project for more than three years.

The idea uses the latest smart phone technology and the plan is to roll the scheme out across the country if it proves to be a success in Bristol.

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Customers who download the app to their smartphone can use the technology to order a taxi and then watch its progress on an interactive map.

The technology means they will be able to monitor the progress of the taxi as well as receive exact details of what time it is due to arrive and contact details.

And all the taxi drivers involved are CRB checked and fully licensed so passengers know they are fully protected and have piece of mind.

Passengers can also pay automatically with a debit card with no charges above the meter and no hidden fees.

The trio met while studying computer design and have spent all their spare time over the last three years working on the graphics and software for the scheme.

Imran, who is 24 and lives in Knowle, said: "The three of us came up with the idea and have spent three years getting it right. We have done a lot of testing and redesigning to get the app just how we want it.

"One of the problems we had was the fact that the council decided that all the taxis had to be blue in Bristol so we had to change the design.

"We wanted to be sure that the app worked properly and does what it is supposed to do and it has taken a lot of time and effort but we are really proud with what we have ended up with."

He added: "The idea is to make ordering a taxi much more convenient and so people can be sure they know what they are going to get. Instead of not knowing when the taxi is going to arrive you can keep an eye on its progress.

"Our customers will also know exactly how much they will have to pay and the details of the person who will be driving them.

"What we are aiming to do is to make it safer and more convenient than ever before to order a taxi in Bristol."

Imran was involved in the software development and Adam, 24 from Ashton, and Marcus, 27 from Knowle, worked on the design and programming part of the project.

They have big plans for the app and which is one of the first of its kind anywhere in the country.