Call a taxi with smartphone
The Developed Service "Tokyomusen Version of Sugukuru Taxi" Starts
- Easy! Touch buttons three times, at minimum, to call a taxi -

【Note】This service is available only in Japan.

March. 12, 2012
Tokyomusen Cooperative
FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
Meitetsucom Co. Limited

Tokyomusen Cooperative^(*1), FUJITSU TEN LIMITED^(*2), and Meitetsucom Co. Limited^(*3) cooperatively developed 'Tokyomusen Version of "Sugukuru Taxi" (Soon-Arriving Taxi),' which is the system for service to easily call taxis with smartphone (iPhone or Android™ terminal). The service is scheduled to start from April 1st, 2012.
Once users download the free application of the service to their smartphones, they can call taxis using "Simple Order," which enables users to call a taxi only by touching buttons three times at minimum on the smartphone with which they specify where they are, without talking to an operator of a taxi company, after activating the application. Then a taxi comes to the specified location.
The users can easily request the closest available taxi from among approximately 4,000 taxis of Tokyomusen. It takes only 20 to 30 seconds^(*4) to determine a taxi to be dispatched to them (in 23 wards of Tokyo, Musashino-city, and Mitaka City).

This system "Sugukuru Taxi" jointly developed by the three companies can be also introduced to taxi companies other than Tokyomusen. The introduction of the system to as many taxi companies as possible will hopefully enhance mutual cooperation among taxi companies and provide better service to taxi users. In the future, utilizing FUJITSU TEN's experience in business of the digital taxi radio system, the three companies will promote this new service system to taxi companies across Japan with the aiming of seamless use of approximately 16,000 taxis in Japan.

The system "Sugukuru Taxi" is exhibited at the 3rd Automotive Telecommunication Technology Tokyo [March 14th (Wed) to 16th (Fri), 2012] at Tokyo Big Sight (http://www.auto-mobi-expo.jp/). You will find there the concrete process of the taxi dispatch system.

Reasons for Development

The needs for calling a taxi without talking to an operator has been growing for the last some years. FUJITSU TEN has marketed an IVR taxi dispatch reception function^(*5) and an on-line reception function of taxi orders via computer, for automated taxi dispatch systems. Tokyomusen introduced the IVR taxi dispatch reception function in 2006.
Moreover, amid the recent widespread of smartphones, this new service was realized as a system for taxi reservation easily made on the street by linking to the "Taxi Dispatch Reception System for Smartphones" developed by Meitetsucom, instead of talking to an operator.

Main Characteristics of "Sugukuru Taxi"

Taxi Users:

• 1.  Can call a taxi using easy "Simple Order" without talking to an operator
  Users do not have to talk to an operator for calling a taxi. They can use the "Simple Order," which enables users to call a taxi only by touching buttons three times at minimum on the smartphone, including the GPS function, with which they specify the present location (where they are), after activating the application.
  (Note) In the case, such as requesting two or more taxis and specifying the vehicle model of the taxi, users need to touch more buttons.
• 2.  Can specify the pick-up location immediately
  Users can specify the pick-up location immediately and precisely without annoying explanation because they specify it on the map.
• 3.  Can call a taxi easily on the street
  Users can easily order a taxi to pick them up at the present location (where they are), by using the smartphone GPS function.
• 4.  Can call a familiar taxi company directly
  Users can feel at ease calling a taxi because the application is customized for each taxi company and they can call a taxi of their familiar taxi company.
• 5.  Can see the present location of the taxi
  Users can check the present location of the taxi on the map that is reserved to pick them up. Therefore, they do not feel frustrated during waiting for the taxi.
• 6.  Can make detailed requests such as the number of taxis
  Users can make detailed requests such as two or more taxis and the vehicle model of the taxi.
• 7.  Can check taxis in the vicinity
  Users can check if available taxis are running in the vecinity of the present location of them, before calling a taxi company.
• 8.  Can simulate taxi fee (planned)
  It is planned to introduce a function of simulating the approximate taxi fee for the distance for which users will ride the taxi.

Taxi Companies:

• 1.  Can increase contact points to receive taxi orders
  Taxi companies can upgrade their service because the contact points through which users call a taxi will increase.
• 2.  Can automate the process and shorten time for the process from receiving taxi orders to dispatching taxis
  Taxi companies can automate the process from receiving taxi orders via smartphones to dispatching taxis, by linking to the "Automated Taxi Dispatch System using Digital Taxi Radio System." Therefore, the link to the system contributes to speedy dispatch of taxis and improvement in work efficiencies.
• 3.  Can be on the online under the application name including individual taxi company names, which enables users to easily distinguish taxi companies
  An application name is provided for each taxi company. Users can feel at ease calling a taxi because they can call a taxi of their familiar taxi company.
• 4.  Can customize the application depending on their services
  Taxi companies are provided with the application including selectable menu prepared beforehand so that they can set their customized application. Therefore, they can provide the services to serve their own customers' needs.

Roles and Advantages of Three Companies

Tokyomusen

Tokyomusen is constantly improving its taxi dispatch service, for example, through full automation of the taxi dispatching process by using the IVR taxi dispatch reception function, etc., and starts the "Sugukuru Taxi" service for better service.
Since the company introduced the Automated Taxi Dispatch System using Digital Taxi Radio System in 2004, it has increased its customer users due to speedy and accurate taxi dispatch. As a result, Tokyomusen dispatched the most number of taxis in Tokyo area in December 2011 (232,400 taxis that accout for 24% of the total dispatched taxis).

FUJITSU TEN

FUJITSU TEN has realized the automation of the process from receiving taxi orders placed via smartphones to dispatching taxis, by developing software that links the "Automated Taxi Dispatch System using Digital Taxi Radio System" and "Taxi Dispatch Reception System for Smartphones."
Since the start of selling the "Automated Taxi Dispatch System using Digital Taxi Radio System" in December 2003, the company has sold the system to approximately 320 companies (as of the end of February, 2012) and accounts for the largest share in the field.
By utilizing the sales achievement of the systems and its network established with taxi comapnies, FUJITSU TEN will promote the "Sugukuru Taxi" to taxi companies.

Meitetsucom

Meitetsucom developed the "Taxi Dispatch Reception System for Smartphones" which can be used on smartphones (iPhone/Android terminals).
By using the system, taxi companies can give their cutomers the information of the picke-up taxi such as the vehicle number and the estimated time of arrival. In the future, Meitetsucom enhances the ASP business^(*6) of the "Taxi Dispatch Reception Service for Smartphones" as a system connecting "smartphones" and "taxi dispatch center."

Outline of Application

Name	The application is named for each taxi company. In the case of Tokyomusen, the application name is "Taxi Tokyomusen".
Compatible model/ download site	iPhone (iOS 4.3 or newer) / App Store Android terminal (Android OS 1.6 or newer) / Google™ Play Store Search by keyword "tokyomusen"
Price	Free
Start of service	For iPhone: Mar. 1st, 2012 For Android: Feb. 28th, 2012
Prefectures in which service is available	Tokyo Metropolis (23 wards, Musashino-city, and Mitaka City) as of Mar. 12th, 2012

Note

(*1)  Tokyomusen Cooperative : Headquarters Shinjuku City    Chief Director Yasutoshi KAWAMURA
Tokyomusen runs the taxi business as the largest taxi group including 62 member companies having 4,500 vehicles in total. It is striving for comfortable and safe taxi service by, for example, acquiring the Green Management Certification in addition to quickly introducing advanced systems leading to better taxi dispatch service.
(*2)  FUJITSU TEN LIMITED : Headquarters Kobe City    President & Representative Director Takashi SHIGEMATSU
FUJITSU TEN is a car electronics manufacturer invested by FUJITSU LIMITED, TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, and DENSO CORPORATION. Its main businesses are car navigations/audios, electronic control units such as engine control ECUs and air bag control ECUs, and mobile communication devices.
(*3)  Meitetsucom Co. Limited : Headquarters City of Nagoya    President & Representative Director Yoshihiro HIBI
Meitetsucom is an information system company in Meitetsu Group, and provides the one-stop service relating to development, operation, and use of software. It provides solutions, IT consultation, IT service, and data center service mainly in the fields of transportation, logistics, distribution, service, education, public service, media, website, etc.
(*4)  20～30 seconds : It may require more time, depending on taxi available situations.
(*5)  Interactive Voice Response (IVR) taxi dispatch reception function :
An automated answering function of automatically answering incoming calls for taxis order by using synthesized voice
(*6)  ASP business : Application Service Provider business

Trademarks

"iPhone" and "App Store" are trademarks of Apple Inc.
"Android" and "Google" are trademarks of Google Inc.

The contents of a press release are as of the publication. Later, they are apt to be changed without notice. Thank you for understanding in advance.