Don’t lump ZabKab together with other taxi apps because (1.) we’re legal, and (2.) we are already operating in NYC! We need to correct a serious error and draw a clear line of distinction between ZabKab, which already legally operates in New York City, and other taxi apps that would like to enter the market even though they fail to conform to street-hail and payment rules and regulations.   A headline and an article in today’s (Sept. 7, 2012) New York Times incorrectly implied that the Taxi & Limousine Commission no longer supports ZabKab, which has been used by passengers and cabbies for more than a month. This is absolutely not true. In fact, the TLC has been supportive of ZabKab’s app and has not in any way restricted the use of ZabKab by cab drivers when their taxis are safely and legally stopped.   This week, another company introduced a taxi app that fails to conform to TLC regulations. TLC quickly issued a warning to drivers and owners that using any app in violation of TLC regulations can result in fines or suspensions.  It expressed particular concern over the use of taxi apps to collect payment. However, ZabKab is not designed to collect payments; it is used strictly to hail a cab. It is a serious mistake to confuse the two functions.   Martin Heikel, co-founder of New York City-based Flatiron Apps Company, makers of ZabKab, stated: “I personally met with TLC officials and the chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Transportation to explain how ZabKab works, and both organizations agreed that ZabKab conforms to the rules.”   Heikel further noted: “I’m disappointed that an outside company launched a taxi app in the New York City market in defiance of TLC rules and regulations that protect our taxi industry and the safety of all New Yorkers.   “From the start, ZabKab was designed to conform to all TLC regulations, and it continues to grow in popularity while conforming to all regulations,” Heikel concluded. “Simply put, the other apps got it wrong. ZabKab got it right.”

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Using ZabKab is intuitive and easy, but for those with questions, we’ve created this Cliffs Notes user guide. Ready to get your degree in Advanced ZabKab in just two scrolls? Hail, yes!

1. Download and activate your account

Once you’ve successfully downloaded ZabKab for free at the Apple App Store, Google Play, or Amazon App Store for Android, you must provide your email address. You will then receive a message to confirm your account. Once you’ve proven that you’re real, you can use ZabKab. And don’t worry. Even though you have a ZabKab account, there is never ever any user’s fee.

2. Using ZabKab the first time

After activating your account, you won’t need to sign in again to use ZabKab. Touch the ZabKab icon, and ZabKab will ask for permission to use your location. Please note that ZabKab cannot work properly without access to your location information. If you decline ZabKab’s original request to access your GPS information, you must then grant permission to ZabKab in your Settings menu. Once you say yes, you’ll see your location on a street map, as well as moving icons of taxis with ZabKab nearby.

3. Hailing a cab

To hail a cab, press the yellow button at the bottom of the screen once. Your device will buzz, the button will turn green and flash, and a passenger icon representing you will appear. If you move, the passenger icon moves with you.

Before touching the hail button

After pressing the hail button

4. Halting the hail

If you change your mind about hailing a cab, touch the passenger button and the hail will be cancelled. If you get into a cab and start moving, ZabKab automatically cancels the hail.

5. Troubleshooting

Because GPS technology isn’t perfect, ZabKab allows you to manually change your hailing location. Simply touch the passenger icon representing you until it vibrates and then drag it to your desired hailing location.

6. Hailing a handicapped-accessible vehicle

Touch the wheelchair symbol to hail a handicapped-accessible vehicle

Touch the wheelchair symbol located at the upper right hand of the screen and it will turn blue. Cabbies will see on their ZabKab Driver app that you have requested a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Touch the symbol again to turn the request off.

7. Specify the number of passengers in your party

You can indicate up to six passengers by touching the “+” symbol next to the hail button

Use the + and – symbols on either side of the passenger icon to specify how many passengers are in your party. Cabbies will see this information and know that you need either a large-capacity vehicle or that you may need more than one cab. You can specify up to 6 passengers.

8. Expand or shrink the area of the street map

ZabKab is set to display approximately a five-block area on the street map. You can expand or shrink the area displayed by using the + or – buttons located at the upper left hand of the screen. You can also use your fingers to scroll the map in any direction or to shrink and expand the area displayed.

Still have questions? Visit http://support.zabkab.com/ for live chat, to post a public question or contact us directly. You can also connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Martin Heikel, co-founder of Flatiron Apps, explains ZabKab to the NY Post.

For the past 24 hours, the airwaves, newsstands, and blogosphere have been buzzing about ZabKab. We’re a big hit with the public – close to 5,000 people have downloaded the app. (The overwhelming demand has caused occasional glitches in account activation, but we’re fixing that. If you’ve had trouble, please, please keep trying.)

We’d like to thank all the reporters, photographers, bloggers, and camera crews that attended our press launch yesterday. You guys really get what we’re trying to do. Here’s a recap of some of the press coverage.

From the New York Post:  A high-tech solution to the age-old problem of finding a cab.

AM New York:  “We’re pleased that the taxi world continues to see rapid technological innovation, particularly apps like this one that may help passengers connect with available taxis,” said TLC Commissioner David Yassky, adding, “I do caution drivers, however, that they must pull over if they want to check a smartphone for passengers.”

WABC-TV: Cabbies spent 25% of their time looking for passengers, now a new app promises to save them time and gas, and get passengers to them faster.

WNBC-TV: The ability to hail a taxi in NYC is the test of every true New Yorker. But now, like everything else these days, there’s an app for that.

TechCrunch: …the genius here isn’t in the passenger version of the app; it’s in the driver version. To comply with Taxi & Limousine Commission regulation, the driver can not look at the app’s display while moving. Unless the car is at a standstill, the entire display fades to grey (but will cleverly ping if a new hail has popped up in the area).

WCBS News Radio 88: New technology promises to make hailing a cab a whole lot easier, especially at night and in the outer boroughs.

This list just scratches the surface of the media interest in ZabKab. It’s a great product. Please help us continue spreading the word. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Help us build the ZabKab nation!

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