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GrabTaxi rolls out number masking for better booking privacy

By Liu Hongzuo - on 9 Oct 2015, 11:38am

GrabTaxi rolls out number masking for better booking privacy

Number masking uses a virtual number that doesn't display your personal one to the driver or passenger you've engaged.

Now, you can book a taxi or car via the GrabTaxi app with a greater peace of mind. The taxi-booking app recently announced their number masking feature, which will mask both passenger and driver numbers who need to contact each other when arranging a trip.

The number masking feature works when you use the GrabTaxi app to contact your driver (or passenger). After the ride has been accepted, pressing the ‘Call’ icon within the app will connect the driver and passenger using a virtual number. Both the driver and passenger’s screens will not display their personal numbers on the other party’s phone. The same virtual number can be called repeatedly, until the ride is completed or canceled.

The new feature uses the conventional number masking service, where calls are connected with the help of telcos that are local to their current country. This applies even if the passenger is using a foreign mobile number. As long as both driver and passenger are connected via roaming services, this can also help reduce call charges for the drivers and the passengers who are not using local numbers.

The number protection feature also works for drivers who also do not want their personal number to be given out, while remaining contactable.

The feature is another step towards safety and privacy for both drivers and passengers. “We must always stay vigilant and believe that the key to ensuring our drivers and passengers have the best experience is by introducing preventive measures,” said Jerry Lim, Head of GrabTaxi Singapore. The decision to mask numbers is one of the ways that limits personal details of both parties.

The feature is met with favorable response from the users, if we are to believe their Facebook page. One user commented that the implementation of number masking is a task “well done”, as he recounted how a driver who uses another booking app was harassing him, as the said driver took down the passenger’s number for “personal motive”.

The number masking feature has since started in October 2015 in Singapore and Malaysia. Neighboring countries Indonesia, The Philippines, and Vietnam will see this feature closer to November 2015. To access the new feature, users are required to update their GrabTaxi app to the latest version on both the iOS and Android OS platforms.

Taxi booking app Uber has number masking too, but their blog entry indicates that India is the only country where the service is implemented.

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