Computerised dispatching could be a reality before the law is changed to impose new technology on the taxi industry.

As Government mulls its options following the Senate rejection of the Motor Car Amendment Act, the entrepreneurs hoping to be the first to market with computerised dispatching technology are moving ahead with their plans.

George Scott, the president of Advanced Tech Solutions which will be a vendor for the system, said yesterday the company's plans were still on track despite the defeat of the bill last week.

Government's plans to force the industry to computerise met with major opposition over provisions in the proposed law which would require taxis to be fitted with computerised dispatching technology including satellite based tracking software known as GPS.

Detractors, which included the Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP), Independent senators and some Government backbenchers, were united in the belief that GPS and computerisation should be optional.

Two way radios are required under existing legislation. But yesterday Transport Minister Ewart Brown pointed out that there is nothing to stop a dispatcher from using computerised dispatching.

"Nothing's stopping us from doing it now," agreed Mr. Scott. "It's not going to stop and we're not stopping." His company will be offering computerised dispatching without GPS, he said. "Whether they like it or not the taxi industry will be dragged into the 21st Century."

Mr. Scott added that while computerisation would make the industry more efficient than the radio based system now in use, using GPS would be even better.

Without GPS, the dispatcher will be able to assign jobs to the first car in a zone. GPS makes it possible to assign jobs to the closest car.

Advanced Tech Solutions would have to wait for the finishing touches to be put in place with Bermuda Central Dispatching Company (BCDC).

BCDC was set up as a central dispatching company to be owned by taxi drivers and owners and existing dispatchers.

None of the new company's founders could be contacted by presstime yesterday. There are signs that BCDC's competitors, like Radio Cabs, may be gearing up for the computerised marketplace. The Bermuda Taxi Operators Association (BTOA) which led opposition to mandatory GPS is backing a proposal made months ago for a shared computerised system among existing dispatchers.