Jan 28, 2009 - by Allen Stern - RideCharge is a startup that offers a way to book your cab and car service rides via a mobile phone. The idea seems similar to recently launched NY-based CabEasy. The RideCharge service works in about 30 large cities in the U.S. In NYC they only work with private car services as taxis can't be booked here.<br /><br />You book the cab via your mobile and can pay for the trip via the mobile as well. RideCharge also offers an expense function which makes it easier than collecting the little receipts the drivers provide (although for those who beef up the tip/ride, this will make that impossible). The system also notifies you when your cab is at your location ready for pickup.<br /><br />I think the real benefit is not having to remember the numbers of the cab companies in each city. The downside is putting your trust into the service that the reservation has been made, etc.<br /><br />It looks like RideCharge also has an iPhone application called Taxi Magic which seems like a way to book a regular taxi in a similar set of cities as RideCharge<br /><br />See the original article, by Allen Stern, here <a href="http://www.centernetworks.com/ridecharge-mobile-car-service"> http://www.centernetworks.com/ridecharge-mobile-car-service</a>