The Bermuda Taxi Association is touting a state of the art dispatch system which it says will revolutionise the efficiency of the service while giving drivers the flexibility of work unavailable under Government?s controversial GPS plan.

Unveiling the Dispatcher-X technology at a Press conference yesterday, BTA president Michael Ray said the system boasted a ?potential beyond our imagination? and that he hoped to persuade Government to endorse the scheme in the coming months.

Created by Raywood Communications, an Australian based company which claims to be the leading taxi dispatch provider world-wide, Dispatcher-X runs from a central computer and divides the area to be covered into zones.

Once taxi requests are taken by a central telephonist and logged in, the computer then calculates which taxi is closest to the job and which taxi has been in that particular zone the longest before allocating the job.

The difference between GPS and the zoning system is that a taxi driver must first log himself in to the system using his on-board computer before his position can be plotted.

Drivers are then able to peruse a digital map of the Island to see where the biggest demand for taxis is and then make their way to that particular zone.

?This system does have a GPS component, but we are not pushing that side of the business,? Mr. Ray said.

?Dispatcher-X gives us the flexibility we require as private owners in that we can log into the system and make our own decisions about where we go. We are convinced this system will greatly improve the efficiency of the taxi service while not tying us in to a central GPS scheme which dictates our every move. Hopefully Government will give us the opportunity to run with this zoning scheme and prove to them and the people of Bermuda that it can work, and has worked in many other countries.?

The system possesses a number of passenger features, including the ability to send and receive e-mail, use the Internet and search for promotions and discounts at local hotels and restaurants.

The cost per taxi, Mr. Ray said, would be between $2,000 to $2,500 and the money would hopefully be generated from among the private taxi owners.

Yesterday Transport Minister Ewart Brown told he had seen the technology and had been impressed.

But when pressed on the future of Government?s GPS initiative, Dr. Brown poured fuel on the fires of speculation.

He said he was ?pleased? the Dispatcher-X had GPS capability, while refusing to be drawn on whether he will now force through the third piece of GPS legislation in July, saying only ?We?ll see?.

Government and taxi drivers have been in a protracted and bitter stand-off over the controversial GPS plans since 2001, with two separate bills passed by the House of Assembly in 2002 and 2004 ? to make the use of GPS in all cabs compulsory ? ultimately thrown out by the Senate.

Dr. Brown now has the option of forcing through the 2004 GPS bill without Senate approval in July.

The crux of the dispute centres on Government?s determination to improve the efficiency of the taxi service by keeping a close eye on where taxis are and whether they are on the roads. Taxi driver?s insistence that as private enterprises, they should have discretion over where they go and which jobs they take.

The proposed zoning system, Mr. Ray argued, provides the best of both worlds.

?We believe that what we have in front of us is something that will work in the best interests of both the taxi drivers and the customers,? he said.

?I anticipate trying to initiate talks with Dr. Brown and the TCD in the next week or so because we have to have their support before we proceed with such a costly investment. We?re very hopeful that this issue can finally be resolved.?