Ride Genie Debuts In Las Vegas As The First And Only Approved E-Hailing App In The City

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark James, President and CEO of Las Vegas based Integrity Vehicle Solutions Company (IVSC), announced today that his company has launched the first and only regulator approved e-hailing application in Las Vegas.  The mobile app called Ride Genie, will allow passengers to hail taxis, black cars, limos and wheelchair-accessible vehicles throughout Las Vegas.  Ride Genie went live today with approximately 400 black cars, SUVs and limos and will begin to phase in its taxi service in approximately six to eight weeks.  The Ride Genie mobile app is available for download for both iOS and Android devices at www.ridegenie.com.

"Today marks a significant achievement not only for IVSC but also for Las Vegas. IVSC has created a mobile app that allows the fleets to operate as they normally would within the regulatory framework of the state, but provides the added benefit of allowing passengers to use their smart phone to secure rides."  IVSC received direct input from the Las Vegas taxi and limousine industry into its development process. "What we have been able to accomplish here in Las Vegas is a true testament to the industry's desire to use technology that will enhance the passenger experience and optimize their business. We are already receiving interest from other cities throughout the country and the rest of the world and see great opportunity in replicating this experience in those locations," said James.

While there are several mobile apps that currently occupy the transportation space, IVSC recognized a major gap in the market for technology that would serve the needs of the regulated transportation industry.  Ride Genie is a technology tool for the industry and its customers, not a ride sharing app. This means that all drivers who accept Ride Genie requests are professional regulated drivers, part of existing commercial fleets and the pricing is a government approved tariff.

"Instead of exploiting the transportation industry and working against safety and consumer protection regulations, we have chosen to partner with fleet owners and drivers, and worked within regulatory processes to create a seamless technology platform that improves and simplifies transportation access and supports regulatory visibility. With Ride Genie, the riding public can take advantage of the convenience of technology without losing the assurances that the driver and car that they hail are properly inspected, regulated, licensed and insured. It leverages the safety benefits of regulation through the thoughtful and supportive application of technology," said James.

Working with established fleet owners in Las Vegas, IVSC was able to create Ride Genie as a near universal platform for regulated Las Vegas black car and limousine fleets.  That means that when a passenger hails a certain type of vehicle, the closest vehicle, no matter what fleet, will be notified of the hail.

"Ride Genie's approval here in Las Vegas is a direct result of the foresight Nevada fleet owners had in recognizing the benefits of using a common technology platform.  They were able to put their competitive differences aside to create a better consumer experience and easier access to transportation for the riding public, and we believe this will result in increased revenues for drivers and fleets," said James.

The Ride Genie app will allow users to hail a ride from anywhere in Las Vegas, with the exception for taxi hails in certain designated locations where there are established cab lines, or where transportation regulations prohibit hailing.  Users will receive an in-app notification of the restriction and can opt for a different type of ride. 

Developed to be intuitive for the user, the Ride Genie mobile app is simple to use and safely gives the riding public more power and more choice to secure rides.  To use Ride Genie, a passenger creates an account with a preferred credit card or other cashless payment option and can proceed immediately to hail rides.  A Ride Genie user will first select the desired vehicle, then select pick-up and drop-off locations, if desired, or request a pickup at their existing location. The user then taps a button to hail a vehicle. Once a driver accepts the ride, the user is notified and can watch as the car approaches the pick-up location.  The passenger is again notified when the driver arrives and is then driven to the designated drop-off location or can direct the driver where he or she would like to go.

Because Ride Genie works with only regulated fleets and drivers, pricing is transparent for the passenger–only tariffs and fares approved by the regulators of that jurisdiction are applied.  Since Ride Genie enables cashless payment, once the passenger reaches the destination, they simply exit the vehicle and receive an emailed receipt.

"What is often lost in the conversation about the transportation industry is the reason why drivers and fleets are regulated and why that should be important to the riding public.  The simple fact is that when a passenger gets into a hired vehicle, regardless of what type of vehicle that may be, they are placing their safety and their life into someone else's hands.  At IVSC, we believe that is an important distinction, and that is why we only work with regulated professional drivers," said James.

ABOUT INTEGRITY VEHICLE SOLUTIONS COMPANY (IVSC): IVSC is a company focused on bringing technology solutions to the For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) industry.  IVSC leverages technology for industry benefit through a suite of solutions that seamlessly integrate regulators, governing bodies, fleet owners, drivers and offer passengers greater access to the existing transportation system operating within a regulated framework. 

IVSC was founded by former President and CEO of Frias Transportation, Mark James, who saw great potential for the integration of technology to ensure the confidence of the riding public in the integrity of the transportation industry and to meet the growing demand for technology to provide easier access to transportation.

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SOURCE Integrity Vehicle Solutions Company