[su_dropcap style=”flat” size=”5″]K[/su_dropcap]enya’s biggest telecoms operator Safaricom on Tuesday launched a ride-hailing app called Little Cab to compete with Uber and which was developed with a local software firm. Little Cab cars will offer free Wi-Fi to passengers, aim to provide cheaper fares than those of competitors and offer drivers a higher share of revenues, officials of both firms said in a statement.
Safaricom, which is 40 percent owned by Britain’s Vodafone, and Nairobi-based software developer Craft Silicon will jointly run the services.
“This is a completely local product which is well in position for competition,” Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said.
Clients will be able to pay for cab fare using Mpesa or Visa and MasterCard branded bank cards. Safaricom said it is developing the app further to enable clients to pay the fare using their subscriber loyalty reward, Bonga Points.
Little Cabs has stepped up competition, promising to give drivers a bigger share of the revenue than similar taxi services.
Uber welcomes the competition, but I believe at the end of the day, how consumer needs will be met shall determine what will work for the many, safaricom may bank on its customers and I am sure they will use the numbers as a leverage.
I have the feeling that this might not be the end of taxi apps, at least not anytime soon or maybe am wrong, guess I will know soon, I need to catch my uber, oops or is it a little cab 🙂
