Q: What is the difference between GPS and GPRS? And what are they anyway?

A: GPS (Global Positioning System) uses signals received from satellites (via a matchbox-sized receiver) to locate a vehicle to about 1 metre accuracy. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is the mobile data communications service provided by Vodafone –Cecam uses this for its speed and its coverage, meaning taxis have live information in-taxi and national coverage. For a diagram of how Cecam uses GPS and GPRS for our clients, click here.

 

Q: Yes, but how good is GPRS coverage –my 021 cellphone experiences blackspots?

A: For our clients, GPRS coverage for their taxis extends well beyond 021 cellphone coverage. This is because we install superior aerials to those on cellphones and also because a data message will still get through where a cellphone call will be dropped (i.e. data messages tolerate lower transmission quality). However if a taxi does lose Taxi Comms messages are held in-Taxi and at base until contact is re-established.

 

Q: How much does Cecam’s ARTEDATA Taxi Dispatch Solution cost?

A: Although we suspect we cost less than your total costs today (including missed business), we need to fully understand your requirements before providing you a price –we find this fuller financial/operational understanding benefits both our clients and us in the longer term. We can prove in the viability of Cecam’s solution by developing a Business Case with you that identifies revenue increases and cost savings achievable with our solution. To discuss this further please contact us via email or phone –or if you’re nearby come and visit us.

  

Q: Isn’t the internet a bit flakey to be running something as operation-critical as Taxi Comms over?

A: Cecam has implemented redundancy of all componentry (and transmission paths) between a client’s base and its taxis, with the exception of the in-Taxi modems. (In the rare event that a modem fails we have swap-ins available at approved installers.) Additionally our Taxi Comms messages are so small that they fly through the internet, taking around 1 second to travel between Base and a taxi. Although we periodically see internet outages at our offices, and at our clients’, this component / transmission redundancy (and the redundancy inherent in the internet and Vodafone’s GPRS network) keeps our clients operational throughout New Zealand.

 

Q: What sort of computer skills do you need to run all this?

A: We have designed this to run at your base on standard business PC’s, so used by your office people with standard PC skills.  If  things go wrong, they can fix it, get in local PC support or contact us and we’ll help them fix it over the phone. At worst (and we haven’t needed to do this yet ) we will fly staff to your taxi base. We are committed to keeping our clients fully functional.

 

Q: My Cecam taxi meter has just failed it’s COF test –how do I recalibrate it?

A: Click here for instructions. (We suggest you print these out and take them to the testing station).