An mobile phone app set to rival digital cab service Uber has been launched in Devon and could expand throughout the entire south west soon.

The Instataxi app operates exactly like Uber but uses licensed Hackney carriage drivers and vehicles.

It tells you where your nearest taxi is, how many are in the area, how much a journey will cost you and even how near your taxi is to picking you up.

The app is the brainchild of Devon businessman Adrian Emery who believes he has spotted a lucrative gap in the market.

Adrian launched the app six weeks ago in his home town of Ilfracombe and is now expanding into Barnstaple - before hopefully launching the app all over the south west of England.

He said: "There have been so many times when I've been out for the evening and spent up to 45 minutes waiting at a taxi rank.

"Most of the time I just ended up walking home. That's where the idea came from."

Adrian took his idea to a software developer in America who created the app for him.

He said: "Instataxi operates just like Uber - you tap the app, enter your destination and it gives you an estimated price for your journey.

"The taxis have GPS trackers so you can also see how many taxis are in your area and how long it will be until one reaches you.

"Then you can choose to pay by credit card or cash."

In the south west Uber only operates in Bristol, something Adrian hopes to use to his advantage.

He hopes Instataxi will not only fill that gap in the market but also give a much-needed boost to local taxi firms.

He said: "In London, Uber had a bad effect on taxi and black cab drivers - but Instataxi uses them so it's better for local drivers.

"It's also environmentally better as there are no more empty return journeys, drivers just go to their nearest job."

The app was launched in Ilfracombe around six weeks ago and Adrian says he has received positive feedback from the 180 people who have downloaded it.

Now he plans to expand to Barnstaple before rolling the app out to other parts of the south west.

He said: "So far we have 10 local taxi firms signed up. It's good because the app transcends brands

"We are looking for more drivers to sign up in Barnstaple.

Source: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/uber-taxi-app-devon-mobile-2042423

"It is being used but will take a while to get about as more people hear about it and download it."

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