Las Vegas-based Integrity Vehicle Solutions Company’s (IVSC) e-hailing app Ride Genie received unanimous approval from the Nevada Taxicab Authority to enable passengers in Las Vegas to use the app to hail taxicabs throughout Las Vegas. Offering the same convenience and cashless payment features as popular ride sharing apps, Ride Genie is the first e-hailing app to be fully integrated with the taximeter to allow the taximeter fare to be paid through a smartphone app, without the need for any other payment processing system.

“Adding taxis to our system, Ride Genie now offers a seamless experience for customers no matter what for-hire vehicle (FHV) they wish to hail—taxi, sedan, SUV or limousine. We know that people want the convenience and ability to hail rides using their smartphones and they want the option of different types of rides to fit their budget. Receiving this approval by the Nevada Taxicab Authority means we have achieved the final step in creating a universal hailing system that can be used across fleets, for all types of vehicles in the regulated environment,” said Mark James, President and CEO of IVSC.

IVSC was able to accomplish the taximeter integration by partnering with another local Las Vegas company, Triad Transtech, which developed the DT5 Mobile Data Terminal, known as a “Smart Meter.” Approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Conference on Weights and Measures, the DT5 Mobile Data Terminal provides tight integration and communication between the meter, the passenger and dispatch system, allowing IVSC’s Ride Genie to create a seamless e-hailing and cashless payment experience in taxis in a legal and regulated manner.

With the addition of taxis to its Las Vegas service, Ride Genie has delivered the technology and convenience touted by ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft, to regulated taxi companies and the public using them. IVSC believes this can be replicated across the country and the world.

“We wanted to launch in our home city first, not only because it is where we are headquartered, but also to prove this technology works for regulated taxi companies and the public that relies on them, and we could develop a universal hailing application that works across fleets and vehicle types. The launch of Ride Genie in taxicabs accomplishes that; Las Vegas residents and visitors can now hail almost any type of vehicle available from a single app, and rely on the regulatory system to keep them safe and the drivers and companies accountable. Contrary to the arguments of the so-called ‘disruptors,’ the transportation industry does embrace technology, and in Las Vegas they are using the best of it to offer their services to the public—with passenger safety and consumer protection at the forefront,” said James.

The Ride Genie app has been adopted by several for-hire fleets in Las Vegas for use with their sedans, limos, SUVs and now taxicabs. Ride Genie allows the passenger to select the vehicle they want, compare prices of the various vehicles available and even set a fleet preference if they so desire, all from their smartphone. The addition of taxis to Ride Genie will soon empower disabled persons to hail an accessible vehicle with a specially trained driver from among the hundreds of wheelchair and other mobility-vehicle-accessible rides offered by Las Vegas fleets participating with Ride Genie.

“Ride Genie has, in essence, been able to create a global dispatch system across the fleets using the app in Las Vegas. Passengers can now hail the closest vehicle that matches the price point they have selected or they can set a fleet preference to hail a car from a particular fleet. We have put the power of choice and convenience into the hands of the riding public,” said Keven Ellison, Vice President of Marketing for IVSC.

“We see this app as a way to not only provide better service to the local community, but also as a way to expand our offering to customers looking for a convenient way to access our vehicles. We see this as a natural progression in the way we offer transportation in Las Vegas,” said George Balaban, President of the Desert Cab fleet.

Approved by the Nevada Transportation Authority and now the Nevada Taxicab Authority, Ride Genie remains the only regulated e-hailing app in Las Vegas. The updated app can be found in the iTunes store or GooglePlay. More information about Ride Genie: www.ridegenie.com.