Apps and software (other)

Whoever wants to found a taxi or rental car company must pass the professional knowledge examination in German. A learning platform from Cologne therefore conveys the content in six languages in parallel and takes the German technical terms into account.

The discussion about Uber, Bolt, Lieferando and other platform companies was long dominated by a simple narrative. Here the digital future, there the regulated industries. Here innovation, there bureaucracy. But while politics and the public for years had mainly focused on questions of market access, the return-to-work obligation, or bogus self-employment, a different aspect is now coming into focus: the power of algorithms.

A nationwide data standard enables the integration of taxi and rental car rides into intermodal travel chains. Digital patient transports and control-center dispatchers will also benefit.

(dpa) Two vehicles got stuck in floodwaters in Atlanta and San Antonio. The provider, according to its own statements, is working on software adjustments and is also pausing highway driving in several U.S. cities.

More digital visibility for taxi companies – with the launch of the new Taxi.de App, Taxi.de brings a new digital infrastructure for the industry to the market. The aim is to strengthen direct customer loyalty and enable repeat orders without a commission-based platform logic.

Fifteen years after the launch of a seemingly inconspicuous application: what began in 2011 under the name mytaxi has today become part of everyday life in Munich as Freenow. An assessment of the company shows how closely the business is intertwined with the city—and where the development did not proceed without tensions.

Three integration levels, clear interfaces and a nationwide adapter: The new data standard is intended to make taxi and rental-car services digitally visible and bookable. Version 1.0 is still planned for 2026.

In a coastal town like Glückstadt, one quickly thinks of fish sandwiches and harbor air. But at the „Glückstädter Kreis“ for years the issue has been tangible questions: How can the taxi stay economically viable, visible – and, above all, relevant?

(ots/dpa) The German Institute for Service Quality and the news channel ntv have awarded the German App Award 2026. Apps that consumers particularly value were honored. A survey with 23,297 customer ratings determined the winners in 48 categories – and the Taxi Deutschland App was able to convince. But the Uber app was also awarded.

With the smartphone – and in the course of this the availability of location determination and fast data connections – soon also the mobility and taxi apps emerged, which fundamentally changed taxi bookings: Instead of searching for a number, making a call and waiting on hold, today a few taps with the finger are enough and the car is already on the way. But the offerings differ clearly – from classic taxis through rental-car models to combined solutions for business customers. The following article provides an overview of the most important ride-hailing and taxi apps in Germany and shows which app with which offering is suitable for which need and which pros and cons come into play.

With the nationwide launch of the app, Freenow by Lyft is expanding its presence in the German taxi market. From now on, taxi companies and drivers in all districts can register. The app is intended to simplify operations, broker new bookings, and thus strengthen a business that is simultaneously under cost pressure and experiencing changing mobility habits.

The dispute over Uber drivers' pay is intensifying. In the United Kingdom and several European countries, drivers want to sue Uber over unfair, algorithmically determined pay and are seeking compensation for lost earnings and for a breach of data protection.

Even in Lisbon, two systems collide with each other, though they share the same street space and operate under completely different conditions. The traditional taxi industry and platform providers such as Uber, Bolt or FreeNow have been in a strained relationship for years. Competition is fierce, and the market is changing faster than policymakers can respond.

Farewell to paper clutter. The mobility provider Freenow has announced an integration with SAP Concur Expense, a software for travel expense management. Going forward, receipts for taxi rides will be automatically and digitally transmitted to the billing system – completely without paper and post-processing.

The open cloud platform from PACE Telematics enables oil companies, gas stations, and vehicle manufacturers to integrate payment solutions directly into the vehicle or into apps – regardless of provider or system.

The Kempten Taxi Dispatch Center is partnering with Freenow by Lyft with immediate effect. This will enable passengers in the Allgäu to order a taxi, pay for it, and track it via the Freenow app.

The Vienna taxi dispatch center Taxi 40100 wants to shake up the public image of how to order a taxi a little. Since the beginning of the year, rides can be booked not only by phone or via the app, but also directly via WhatsApp.

Reports have been circulating in Frankfurt’s taxi industry for several weeks, causing unease. It is said that Frankfurt’s long-established taxi dispatch center has been sold or is on the verge of a cooperation with Uber. Now Taxi Frankfurt eG, the cooperative behind the dispatch center, has responded with a correction. “The dispatch center has not been sold,” it says in a statement that went out to drivers and the public. The board likewise firmly rejects the allegation that there are already contracts with Uber or other platforms.

The family-owned company with 45 years of experience is expanding its offering to include digital channels. In addition to the classic telephone service, customers now have access to contactless payments and invoiced rides.

Users in Dortmund can now choose between fixed-price hire cars and taxi rides. At launch there are discounts, while Bolt plans to integrate additional mobility options such as e-scooters and car sharing over the long term.

The new platform brings together regional demand-responsive transport services such as Anrufbus Unterland, YOYO in the Upper Rhine Valley, and the shared taxi in Montafon. A pilot project extends operating hours and introduces digital booking and payment via app.

Uber is expanding its offering and entering the pharmacy market. Effective immediately, users can use the Uber Eats app to order not only pizza or sushi, but also over-the-counter health and personal care products.

The new generation of Connectel's voice-controlled taxibot is designed to enable bookings via natural language, thus alleviating call centers. Taxi companies could thereby handle more calls automatically, especially during peak times.

Less paperwork, less effort: A new billing service is set to reduce administrative work for taxi and rental car companies in Bavaria – including health insurance communication and support.

(dpa) The planned app by BVG and Hochbahn allows users to freely combine transport options – including taxis. The modular interface is intended to bundle travel requests and simplify access to on-demand services.

The telephony provider Peoplefone Germany has recently started offering a mobile tariff that is ideal for the taxi business: With Mobile-5-Turbo, businesses receive a phone and SMS flat rate to all German networks. The data volume is 5 GB per calendar month, which is more than sufficient for data exchange via a taxi app.

Taxi companies that have so far managed their INSIKA data through the Hamburg service provider Tesymex must find a new solution by the end of March. Due to the liquidation of the company, alternatives such as Starksoft, Taxiwin, and Hale are available.

All good things come in threes - ÜSTRA is being struck again! The union ver.di has called for a full-day warning strike on March 13, 2025. The renewed strike represents a certain challenge for the taxi industry - but not a problem.

Mobility means more than just getting from A to B – it can also fulfill special wishes and lead to unforgettable moments. Freenow is continuing its successful "Round Up and Donate" initiative and is now supporting the Wünschewagen project of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e. V. (ASB).

Starting from May 1, 2025, taxi rides in the state capital can also be booked at a fixed price. The multi-mobility app Freenow, with a focus on the taxi business, will integrate the new pricing model directly into the app starting May 1.

In Bamberg, representatives of smaller cities, taxi centers, and cooperatives met at the end of last week for the Anti-Uber Alliance (AUA). With about 60 participants, the first meeting of the community of suffering and interest initiated by Christian Linz from the LVBTM was well attended.

The Taxi Center Erlangen and FREENOW have formed a groundbreaking partnership. Through this collaboration, even more taxis can now be conveniently booked via the mobility service provider's app.

PACE Telematics introduces the PACE Drive Business digital fleet card for efficient fleet management.

ioki, a European technology company for digital mobility and a pioneer in the field of autonomous transport in public transit, is the software partner of the pilot project for autonomous driving in public transport in the canton of Zurich.

(ots/PRNewswire) Hyundai Mobis has developed a technology capable of recognizing body posture (position), actions, and biosignals to assess the safety of passengers in the car, both in the front and rear seats.

The automotive department of Nextbase presents the dashcams 385GW and 385GWX, which were specifically developed with the needs of vehicle manufacturers and dealers in mind. Users can install the dashcams themselves or have them installed by a professional dealer.