asterRIDE™ Debuts in Orlando with Safe, Dependable Ride Service App

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Orlando taxi and limo companies are hailing the arrival of asterRIDE, the city's newest ride service company. Launched two months ago in Phoenix, asterRIDE offers Orlando consumers a safe, reliable and legal ride hailing experience, all while supporting local cab and limo businesses.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150123/170980
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150123/170981

While adhering to the local and national standards of the taxi and black car industry, asterRIDE also protects riders from price gouging during peak times and holidays. The asterRIDE app connects riders with commercially insured and city permitted vendors who have undergone detailed criminal background checks.

"United Cab is thrilled to work with asterRIDE," said Manuel Pimentel, general manager of Orlando-based United Cab, which is partnering with asterRIDE. "They are running an application dispatch the correct way from the get go, in a safe manner that provides convenience and transparency through its network of local transportation providers."

The latest addition to asterRIDE's app is a new safety feature--instaALERT™, which acts like a rider's guardian angel. instaALERT keeps others updated on your ride progression and notifies individuals you designate if something goes wrong during your journey.

"Passenger safety has become a controversial topic for ride service companies," said Seth Rudin, CEO of asterRIDE. "We wanted to make it safer for passengers, especially women, children and single riders. Our goal is to instill confidence in our service and a peace of mind." 

Officials from local cab companies welcomed asterRIDE's newest safety enhancements.

"We are proud that asterRIDE has taken safety to the highest level of concern with the launch of instaALERT," said a representative from Quick Transportation. "They've done a really good job of getting passengers' feedback and creating a unified app for taxi and limo services that is both safe and convenient."

Unlike its competitors, Uber X and Lyft, asterRIDE does not compete with taxi and black car services. Instead, the company helps its taxi/black car service partners acquire new customers by conducting marketing on their behalf. "Our goal is to bring these guys back to life," Rudin said.

Some other key features of asterRIDE:

• Remembers settings and past bookings, option to save favorites, make search recommendations with Yelp ratings and more
• Make reservations in advance with Advance Booking Feature
• Single tap booking
• No cash needed. Electronic receipts provided.
• Receive notifications about the status of the bookings (text, email and in app)
• Track your driver from the time the driver is on his/her way to the end of the ride.

Andy Shaw, CEO of Limocar Limousine Service, predicts asterRIDE will be a hit in Orlando.

"I am seeing a market shift in our consumers' buying behaviors," he said. "Not only does asterRIDE offer job security for the licensed and insured limo, luxury transportation and taxi companies, it provides Orlando's ground travelers with a simple app to connect to a safe and affordable ride service."

Ash Elmahdi, asterRIDE's Orlando general manager, said he has been pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response to his company's arrival. "I think the local taxi and limo companies appreciate the unified approach and the national platform that asterRIDE offers," he said.

asterRIDE, now also available in Seattle (in addition to Phoenix and Orlando), will be coming to Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., New York City, Miami, Atlanta, San Francisco in the first half of 2015. Available on iTunes and Google Play Store, asterRIDE works on both smart phones and tablets.

About asterRIDE

asterRIDE revives the romantic notion of the local cab or ride service and adds true one-touch convenience with our patent pending technology. asterRIDE unites passengers with taxis and black cars in a simple easy to use app designed by everyday passengers for its riders. asterRIDE offers individual fares, group rides and corporate programs. asterRIDE provides true peace of mind. Our drivers are vetted, permitted, and commercially insured so you can ride in confidence. 

For more information, visit www.asterride.com

Media Contact: Dave McKibben, (888) 317-4687 ext. 702, Email

SOURCE asterRIDE

Related Links

http://www.asterride.com