WABC-TV has announced that it will provide news content to New York City's yellow cabs. The news will be broadcast over integrated payment and content delivery systems developed and installed by VeriFone Transportation Systems, an alliance of VeriFone Holdings and Taxitronic, the leading supplier of taxicab meters in New York.
The new systems deliver the latest technology enhancements mandated by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) and will be installed in taxis throughout this year and next.
As part of the partnership, WABC will provide a customized version of "Eyewitness News" updated several times a day with the latest news and weather information. The video will be fed via wireless broadband technology from WABC's Web site hub, www.7online.com, to thousands of moving taxicabs equipped by VeriFone.
The content delivery capabilities are part of a comprehensive system designed to enable the acceptance of credit and debit cards, automate collection and submission of trip data, deliver content to passengers and provide electronic message transmission to drivers. Currently, the systems and the station's content are available in 50 taxis as part of a final trial by the TLC. VeriFone will soon make the systems available to all taxi medallion owners.
Zagat Survey, the leading provider of trusted dining and entertainment information in New York, is also providing ratings, reviews and directory information for restaurants, nightlife spots, shopping and hotels, all available with a touch screen located in the taxi passenger compartment.
For more information, visit www.7online.com, www.VeriFoneTS.com, www.taxitronic.net/frameset.htm and www.verifone.com.
