SKT's T Map Mobility and Uber to launch integrated taxi-hailing UT app on Nov.1

[Photo by Park Hyung-ki]

UT, the taxi-hailing joint venture of SK Telecom Co.’s T Map Mobility and U.S. car-hailing giant Uber, will officially launch the two companies’ integrated mobility application UT app on Nov. 1 with an aim to increase its licensed taxies to more than 10,000 units before the end of this year, according to UT CEO.

UT and Uber have been operating their car-hailing apps separately even after UT JV was launched by SK Telecom and Uber in April.

UT CEO Tom White said in a recent interview with Maeil Business Newspaper that UT would allow Korean cab users to enjoy the same Uber experience that its global users have been enjoying. He pledged to focus on not only technology but also communication and support to resolve difficulties that both taxi drivers and passengers are facing in Korea in order to make UT the first thing that comes to mind when people think of land transportation in two years.

He said the company has made all-out efforts to ensure reliable usage of T Map’s map data and payment system by cooperating with developers at Uber headquarters to develop the integrated app.

Korea is the only country, in which Uber has established a joint venture to run a standalone app, separate from Uber app. Calling the Korean market “special,” White expected Korean consumers and taxi drivers will benefit greatly from the integrated UT app backed by the unique Uber system.

UT’s distinguished feature from other taxi-hailing apps in Korea is its ‘pre-confirmed fare system’ that fixes taxi fares before departure thanks to the combination of Uber’s platform technology and expertise with T Map’s mapping data. UT users can also use Uber service via UT app anywhere in the world.

In order to tackle the problem of mismatch between taxi supply and demand in Korea, UT plans to implement ‘flexible rate system’ that will allow taxi fares to go up during rush hours and to go down at off-peak times. It will also allow a taxi-sharing service so that UT taxi drivers can earn more while passenger can save money.

White expected UT’s flexible taxi fare policy would solve many problems in the Korean mobility market, where it is still hard for mobility app users to find taxies, while projecting that UT’s taxi-haring service would be a “game changer” in the market. UT’s flexibility goes beyond the fare system, allowing taxi drivers licensed with other companies to use UT, which is an open platform.

The company plans to ramp up the number of its licensed taxis to more than 10,000 units by the end of the year to broaden its presence in the market dominated by Kakao Mobility. Kakao Mobility’s licensed taxi service Kakao T Blue had 26,000 units of taxis as of August.

White said UT recognizes taxi drivers are self-employed people and UT’s basic philosophy lies in the fact that it cannot succeed without their success. He pledged to provide open and promising market to them to share success and achieve co-prosperity.

[ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]