Call Taxis from LINE Without Installing Any External Apps
Smooth, Cashless Payment Achieved Via Linkage with LINE Pay
Tokyo, Japan – January 6, 2015 – LINE Corporation, owner and operator of the free call and messaging app LINE, has announced the release of LINE Taxi, a service that allows LINE users to call taxis directly from the LINE app.
The app will first be available in the Tokyo metropolitan area (23 wards, Mitaka City and Musashino City) starting today. A nationwide release is planned for the near future.
LINE Taxi does not require any external apps to be installed, and allows users to call taxis from the LINE app they’re already familiar with. Users can conveniently call taxis by utilizing GPS functionality, inputting building information and designating pickup points directly from the LINE app
With the LINE Taxi service, users will now conveniently be able to call taxis simply by starting the LINE app even during hours in which it is difficult to find a cab, in areas with low taxi traffic, or in places where phone calls cannot be made. Since approximate wait times are displayed on the LINE Taxi map*1, users are able to plan taxi pickups strategically based on wait times.
Users can also enjoy a smooth, completely cashless payment process when exiting their taxis by linking with LINE’s mobile money transfer and payment service, LINE Pay*2.
Through a tie-up with Nihon Kotsu Co., LINE Taxi users will also enjoy access to approximately 3,340 cabs throughout the Tokyo area for the initial release. In the subsequent nationwide release, the service plans to increase cab availability by capitalizing on the nearly 23,000 taxis owned by Nihon Kotsu’s network of 129 partners as it expands to attain the industry’s largest taxi pool.
How to Use LINE Taxi
1 Certain areas do not have wait times displayed.
2 Credit card information must be registered in advance. Please refer to the LINE Pay press release for more details. ( http://linecorp.com/ja/pr/news/ja/2014/891 )
Points to note when using LINE Taxi:
- Users must update to LINE version 4.8.0 or above to use LINE Taxi.
- Users must set up LINE Pay and register a valid credit card in order to use LINE Taxi.
- A separate pickup fee is charged by each taxi company on top of the relevant taxi fare.