UK network provider EE has announced that it will be bringing its super-fast 4G mobile broadband network to a fleet of fifty black cabs in London and Birmingham.
From today, the iconic black cabs will be kitted out with their own 4G mobile broadband signal via a MiFi wireless router serving as a 4G hotspot.
Part of a three-month long trial, forty London taxis and ten cabs in Birmingham will be given the 4GEE makeover, complete with EE branded turquoise exterior. Once inside the taxi passengers can text from their mobile to receive a unique code offering access to the 4G network.
The 4GEE Taxis will appear on London and Birmingham streets from today providing free 4G access for any passenger with a compatible smartphone, such as the iPhone 5 or HTC One.
“The first motorised black cabs hit the streets in 1901, nearly 70 years before the first smartphone was available to customers, now we are bringing this icon of British transport into the 21st century with a 4G make-over,” said Director of Brand at EE, Spencer McHugh. “We hope this trial will demonstrate the benefits of a superior online experience as users can browse, download, catch up on emails, Tweet and check Facebook literally at the speed of light.”
Over 200,000 black cab journeys are made daily across London alone, with 40 per cent of smartphone users admitting they had been late for a meeting whilst stuck in traffic. 1 in 5 commuters believe having internet access in a cab would make the experience a lot less stressful, so with the 4GEE taxi trial, EE hopes to console some of the frustrated city commuters.
“We can’t make taxi journeys any faster but we can certainly speed up people’s smartphones!” added McHugh.
The 4GEE Taxi trial is not limited to EE customers and could give customers on other networks a chance to experience the speed of 4G prior to the Ofcom auction winners launching their own 4G networks later this year.
Have you experienced 4G yet? Do you think more effort should be put into improving 3G signals rather than 4G speeds? Give us your thoughts on the matter via the TrustedReviews Facebook and Twitter feeds or the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
