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New App Lets You Book A Cab Now, Or Later

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Some new technology is making it easier for Pittsburghers to find someone to drive them around – right when they need it.

You've probably been there. It's Friday night and you need a ride home, but there are no cabs in sight. The ones you do find are charging a fortune.

Or, maybe you need a ride to the airport – tomorrow – but can't find someone to drive you in time for your flight.

Enter a new app developed for the Yellow Cab Company. The new Z-Trip and Yellow Z programs launch on April 1, but the app is already available for download.

"Some of the key differences are, most apps you see today are 'now' apps," says Jamie Campolongo, the President of the Pittsburgh Transportation Group. "This is a now or later app. So, if you have any important thing to get to, you want to book a car for later…you can book the later app and be guaranteed your trip."

The app offers 24-hour a day customer service. The drivers take cash or credit. And there is no surge pricing, which means prices won't be higher at peak times, like nights, weekends or on holidays.

The company also says, they're very focused on the safety of their customers.

"These drivers are vetted the same way any other cab driver would be vetted – criminal background checks, pre-appointment drug testing, FBI fingerprint, child welfare," says Campolongo.

The app may even keep someone from stealing your cab when you're out.

"The nice thing about the app is, you know the vehicle that's coming and the driver. If you [the customer] put your picture in…then the driver knows who you are," says Campolongo.

While officials say the new technology is great, you'll still be able to call for a cab if you need to.

"It's the new world, but we want to keep one foot in the new world and one foot in the old world," says Campolongo.

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