SMS taxi booking is my favourite mobile service

In Singapore, you can now book a cab by simply sending an SMS message. I have used the ComfortDelGro SMS Taxi Booking Service for over a month and it has become my favorite mobile service.

To book a taxi, just send an SMS like: "Book 098585 taxi stand outside giant to 71222."

The number 098585 above is the postal code of the building (in this example, the building named VivoCity) followed by the pick-up point. Within seconds you'll receive a booking confirmation message containing the taxi number and the time of arrival.

This is a great example of a mobile service done right. SMS is ideal for taxi booking because I don't like to call a number and wait for a computer or human operator to answer my call. SMS taxi booking works best during peak periods, when it's nearly impossible to call through to the operators.

With SMS taxi booking I can quickly make a booking and run down the stairs or take the lift, and have the taxi waiting for me just as I reach the front lobby. Pardon the technical jargon, but this asynchronous operation really fits my busy lifestyle.

Kudos to ComfortDelGro for doing a great job with this very useful SMS taxi booking service. This is a good lesson for all of us on serving our customers better with useful mobile services.