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Mobile technology may help city dwellers hitch ride
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 04 - 09 - 2009


Hitch-hikers have always used
their thumbs to get a ride. Now a new invention aims to update
the technique -- allowing mobile phone users to dial-a-driver, Reuters reported.
The mobile ride-sharing service being developed by
researchers in Germany combines internet and mobile technologies
to match drivers to passengers for trips around town, without
them having to arrange it long beforehand.
While traditional car sharing services require commuters to
register routes in advance, the promoters of "OpenRide" say
their product enables drivers to enter a destination on their
mobile phone when they are already on the road.
A server tracks the vehicle's current location and scans for
ride requests. If the software finds a match, the driver is
notified and has the option of picking up passengers en route.
The driver and passenger negotiate a fare for the journey,
typically covering fuel costs. The developers want to make it
possible for passengers to rate drivers, to increase safety.
Online car sharing portals are already a popular way of
commuting longer distances between towns and cities in Germany.
Numerous websites allow drivers to advertise their journeys and
the number of available seats in advance.
The industry has diversified in recent years, with platforms
catering specifically for women as well as pet portals to
transport four-legged friends.
Rising fuel and train ticket prices coupled with an
increasing environmental awareness are all helping to boost its
popularity.
Matthias Fluegge, project director at Berlin-based
Fraunhofer Fokus research institute, behind "OpenRide", said it
should be ready for market release in 2010.


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