HCM City Department of Science and Technology introduced on December 18 its own taxi booking and management application, called LiveTaxi, which can be downloaded on mobile devices.

The city's own app will support the management operations of taxi companies. It offers a variety of functions, such as a viewing list of drivers and management of taxi itineraries, locations and operational status of taxi drivers (whether parking or driving passengers) through GPS.

Customers can also install the app on their mobile devices. It will detect the current location of users and provide estimated distances and fares. It will also offer information on the whereabouts of the nearest taxi driver and the estimated time of his arrival to the customer's location.

A few taxis from cab companies Mai Linh and Vinasun had earlier installed LiveTaxi in a pilot programme. This was part of a project to research and implement technical applications in taxis, which was conducted by the Department of Science and Technology's Standards, Metrology and Quality Division and Huy Hoang Training and Development Joint Stock Company in 2013. 

Nguyen Thai Binh, general secretary of HCM City Taxi Association, said that LiveTaxi will improve the quality of customer service and help taxi companies lower fares and manage their cabs securely and conveniently.