By, Josh Jackman
1 min read
ByJosh Jackman, Josh Jackman
An Israeli company has launched an app that means that you will never again have to worry about whether you can afford your taxi fare.
Gett, which has followed up launches in Russia and the US by opening in 25 cities all over Britain, is set to take on ride-sharing app Uber for dominance in the market.
But unlike Uber, whose astonishing growth has been counterbalanced by multiple legal allegations and class-action lawsuits, Gett ensures that customers will always be served by black-cab drivers.
The app also tells users how much they will pay before they order, with a fare based on distance rather than time - marking a change from the way black cabs traditionally work.
Gett, which has received £134 million in funding and has 70 British employees, also resists the urge to raise prices at busy times and allows customers to order rides up to two weeks in advance.
Kim Monney, head of UK marketing, said the company had taken the market "to the next level" by signing up 7,000 of London's 25,000 taxi drivers.
"We know from our research that Londoners want to ride in black cabs, but they take a minicab because they want to know the fare before they ride. This gives people a reason to take black cabs for all their journeys.
"You'll get there fast, which is what's great about having drivers with the Knowledge. All black-cab drivers have CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks too. And the vehicles are very safe, they're highly regulated and checked every six months."