Emails from 2009 - 2010 showing the invention of using marketing to make taxis rides to destinations cheaper.

1. 3/3/2014
Google Desktop: Re: FYI: Designing the Ideal Taxi System for New York City (and beyond)
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Re: FYI: Designing the Ideal Taxi System for New York
City (and beyond)
From: Eric Matthew Masaba/Texxi/CraneDragon
To: "Ed Brill" <edbrill@gmail.com>
Date: 09 Jan 2008 - 1:52a.m.
Hi Ed,
The iPhone could be a target for us, but then again, a competitor to Apple cound fund a T-Phone.
We happen to know that Nokia "have a file on us" we were told by a faculty member at the Centre
for Transportation studies in UWE Bristol, England.
Basically, some of the Web2.0 mashups like Farecast, LowestFare, Yapta and FareCompare are
the space we overlap also. I specifically love Farecast and its "yield curve" like approach. Imagine
when we are doing this for taxis, airport transfer vehicles and the such in every US and Canadian
city.
The integration between the boundaries of online search and travel will become increasingly blurred
to the point where the two activities are seamless. If one considers that the intentions of a large
number of people start with an online search (including mobile online search) then there are two
fulfillment paths to consider.
In the first case, the intention is fulfilled by moving an item TO the person who executed the
demand. This is handled extremely well by the logistics business space. There is room for
evolution, but generally it is a problem with excellent solutions. When the item required is digital in
nature, this is taken care even more effectively by the network / bandwidth provisioning companies
(Digital Logistics).
Secondly, an intention is fulfilled by moving the person TO the intended place. This is handled
neither particularly well nor seamlessly.
Assume I am a tourist looking for an attraction to visit in a foreign city. Normally I would use a
(space-domain) map, figure out where the attraction was located, then figure out how to get there
and how much the trip would cost. I would then go to find the transport and try to coincide my
itinerary with a timetable.
Now with an evolved Texxi model, I would use my mobile communications device with either a timelocation-domain map of attractions OR a cost-location-domain map of attractions (these are maps
which show loci depending on how long it takes get there or how much it costs to get there; the
actual distance is normally a secondary consideration, it is just that this normally has some
reasonable relationship to the time it takes to get there).
Then the final and critical piece. I click on the map and instruct the DRT Exchange that this is
where I wish to go. Texxi (the Broker) takes care of the rest through its DRT Exchange activities and
I am moved by a DRT Service Provider (shuttle, taxi, bus, private jet) from either directly where I am
located or from nearby with a group of people with a similar itinerary.
This group is further filtered by behaviour/reputation parameters - so I don't get put in transport with
football hooligans.
http://127.0.0.1:4664/cache?event_id=244136&schema_id=1&q=digital+logistics&s=98V8Q6quHRtQFHVbFekagaywqOw
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2. 3/3/2014
Google Desktop: Re: FYI: Designing the Ideal Taxi System for New York City (and beyond)
http://www.yapta.com
http://www.farecast.com
http://www.farecompare.com
http://www.hotwire.com
http://www.triporama.com
http://www.travelmuse.com
http://www.mobissimo.com/search_airfare.php
http://www.sidestep.com/
http://www.kayak.co.uk/
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/next-road-warrior_Printer_Friendly.html
There’s been quite a bit of buzz lately around travel-related startups. Below is a listing of some of
the more recent travel startups that I’ve come across. As of January 2007, Forrester estimates
consumers will spend over $80 billion booking tickets, lodging, cars, rail, cruises and packages this
year with strong growth moving forward. As you can guess the space is already extremely crowded
and the trend will mostly likely continue.
Airfare - FareCast (prediction website), Yapta (deal/refund finder), cFares, FareCompare
Search Engines - Kayak, SideStep, Qixo, Mobissimo
Group Travel - TripHub, Groople
Social/Community - TripWiser, RealTravel, Gusto, SnapJot
Hotels - HotelsCombined, TravelPost
Other - GuestCentric (travel web services), JumpClaimer (mobile travel site), TripOvation (prelaunch), Expodition (travel guides for your ipod), Viator (booking engine for attractions, day trips,
tours), Wandrian (e-commerce solution for the rail industry)
"Ed Brill" <edbrill@gmail.com>
09/01/2008 00:59
To
Eric.Masaba@texxi.com
cc
Subject
Re: FYI: Designing the Ideal Taxi System for New York City (and beyond)
Eric,
Happy new year to you.
Re your last line, I am increasingly seeing the handheld devices become the modern notion of the
Star Trek Communicator... everything in your hand! If so, then it makes perfect sense for there to be
a way to order up a Texxi through the device...using GPS even!
Very exciting times as those devices become pervasive.
--Ed
On Jan 7, 2008 11:06 PM, <Eric.Masaba@texxi.com> wrote:
Hi Ed,
http://127.0.0.1:4664/cache?event_id=244136&schema_id=1&q=digital+logistics&s=98V8Q6quHRtQFHVbFekagaywqOw
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3. 3/3/2014
Google Desktop: Re: FYI: Designing the Ideal Taxi System for New York City (and beyond)
Hope Lotusphere is treating you right.
Just wanted to you see the latest tack we are taking.
The three most similar startups to us are Farecast, Zopa and Liftopia.
Perhaps we will combine data/methods from Priceline, Hotwire or other
auction sites shortly.
Imagine having Texxi on your iPhone also.
Regards
Eric
----- Forwarded by Eric Matthew Masaba/Texxi/CraneDragon on 08/01/2008
05:03 -----
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