iPads could replace NYC taxi TVs
Jack Dorsey, executive chairman of Twitter and leader of the mobile-payment company Square, wants iPad tablets to be embedded in the consoles of New York City taxis.
Slashgear.com reports that Dorsey is in talks with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to make Square the main method of credit card payment in cabs. Square has recently become popular for small businesses because of its smart phone technology that allows people to accept credit card payments with a single swipe of their customers’ card.
As reported by The New York Times, David S. Yassky, chairman of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, says that Square’s technology will open up new doors for the cab riding experience. While waiting to arrive at their destinations, patrons will be able to visit a variety of computer sites and applications.
If approved, the current TVs in taxis, which feature a blend of news, ads, and TV spots, will be replaced by iPads or similar tablets. In addition to making payments, riders will be able to play games, check into locations on social networks, view maps of where they are headed, or check reviews on the area’s restaurants and hotels, among other things.
The greatest selling point for NYC cab drivers? While current Taxi TVs require the cab driver to pay a fee for their customers’ credit card transactions, the introduction of Square’s technology and tablets would have no added costs besides the users’ original credit card fee.
