Looking at the past is a stimulating exercise. At Intelligent Data We have been learning for more than 25 years through development and innovation applied to each of our products. Each one of them represents a special personal experience of our customers and ourselves.
Today we seek to share one of our most relevant milestones: the launch of IdGalileo in the year 2000, a revolution for the taxi in the Community of Madrid and in Spain.
IdGalileo was created in response to taxi drivers' need for greater security in their vehicles, through a GPS system. The objective was to modernize the sector by incorporating technology and to be able to assist them in the event of robbery.
Our CEO, Antonio Jiménez , still remembers the months of that beginning of the century, where insecurity was the daily bread of many taxi drivers.
It was dramatic to attend the meetings at the Madrid Government Delegation, where we were repeatedly called upon by all the companies to provide technological solutions to end the injuries and loss of life of taxi drivers due to robberies, without doing anything about it.
On the other hand, it was frustrating for everyone, users and taxi drivers, to see how in rush hours or on a normal rainy day, the stations could not cope with auctioning off the services demanded by the customers through an obsolete radio.
Intelligent Data was one of the companies offering the development of this product, whose IdGalileo won thanks to its innovative differentiation. IdGalileo, beyond offering the required GPS functionalities, implemented several differentiating features never before seen in a device of its size. In this way, our device came to market under the slogan "more than a taximeter" with the mission of emphasizing its great value.
In this way, in 2000, we managed to incorporate the following services into IdGalileo
- Automatic serviceassignment system , location and tracking via GPS satellite and GSM connection.
- Prepared for computerized fleet management applications.
- Vehicleassistance and location with connection to 112 in case of emergency/theft/attack.
- Taximeter with tachograph pricing.
- Payment system by bank card.
- Printing of valid tickets as an invoice with details of the current fare and the route taken.
- Cell phone for the driver's personal use (with hands-free system).
- Reception of spoken or displayedmessages for the driver.
Some of these features could only be seen at that time in northern European countries and required a computer in the back of the car. IdGalileo, on the other hand, was only a small increase in size compared to a taximeter on the dashboard and barely took up any space on the body.
"It doesn't make sense that if there is a computer that, in addition to safety, provides benefits for the user, it won't be used. This is how Juan Sánchez, president of the Professional Taxi Federation (FPT), stated in the digital version of La Razón at the time when evaluating the IdGalileo pilot tests in the first taxis in the Community.
On the other hand, Sigfrido Herráez, responsible for Traffic in the capital at that time, also commented: "It allows simultaneous pricing by time and distance of the journey, which clarifies the costs [...] In addition to security, it offers other very important services for the taxi".
Catalogue with the characteristics of IdGalileo (Year 2000)
Finally, Intelligent Data was awarded the "Technological Innovation Award - 2001" by the Community of Madrid for the creation of a multiservice and security system in Madrid taxis. This became an important technological milestone for our company and a reference for our future projects.
From the perspective offered by time, in the midst of 2020, idGalileo inspires us to continue developing technological solutions focused on exceeding our clients' expectations.
Finally, we would like to send from here, our affectionate memory and recognition to Mr. José Sastre Castillo, Head of the Transport Department of the Madrid City Council, as well as to the whole Taxi sector, for his confidence and support in that exciting technological adventure that marked a milestone in the life of taxi professionals and their users.