Going after Uber: Meru goes cashless with launch of mobile wallet feature

After protestingthe entry of taxi app Uber, radio taxi service Meru has now launched a new mobile app that like its competitor will allow you to make payments directly throughthe app via a mobile wallet feature.

Among the new features in the app that was launched by the company today, travellers can also now use the ‘one-touch booking’ facility, track their cabs and book cabs up to a week in advance, the company said in a release.

The mobile wallet feature has been developed with Citrus Pay and can be used for payment for a trip and also used for payment at outlets of select retailers.

“Customers register and load money into the app via credit card, debit card or through netbanking. This amount can be used at a click of a button from the app to make payments for their journey,” the company said.

The new features come even as Uber has to figure out a way of dealing with RBI’s deadline of ensuring two-step authentication for its in-app credit card payments. While Uber has till 31 October to ensure compliance with the RBI’s directives, it is reported to be considering alternative payment methods including mobile wallets.

The new app by the radio taxi service provider also allows GPS-based booking, a feature that competitors like Uber and Ola Cabs already provide. And like its competitors, the app also allows customers to see the location of cabs in real time before booking and even know the estimated time of arrival.

The app also includes features like providing the details of the cab as soon as the booking is done along with the option of calling the driver with a call button.