What It's Like Using Hailo, The Instant Taxi-Hailing App That Just Raised $30 Million
Hailo launched in 2010, and it will soon be live in nearly a dozen cities throughout Europe and the U.S.
Here's where you can currently use Hailo to find a cab. It's coming to New York City soon.
It takes just a few taps on the screen to hail a cab. Here's how it works.
First, you set up your account (email, number, etc).
You have the option to either pay with cash or store your credit card information so the drivers can automatically get paid.
You can also schedule an automatic tip for each ride (10%, 20% etc).
You can specify what kind of cabs you need too, like one that's wheelchair accessible.
With Hailo, you can either find a cab near your current location, set your location and find a cab near there, or you can find a fixed ride to the nearest airport.
When we opened the app, it showed the nearest cab was one minute away. The nearest Uber, for comparison, was 16 minutes away.
You then choose which method of payment you'll be using.
And the cab shows up, asking you for your name. Here's the back of one of my cabs, advertising the app. Both of the cab drivers we hailed said they used the service but there were aspects of it they weren't wild about. One told us he used it "as little as possible."
At the end of the ride, you'll receive a mobile receipt and an emailed receipt.
If you leave an item in the cab, you can report the lost item and Hailo will help you get it back.
Hailo was a godsend in London, ensuring we got to every meeting on time. But in other parts of the world, nothing can beat Uber. So if you're state-side, check out:
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