Yellow Cab Austin announced Aug. 11 a new partnership with an on-demand app service to provide customers an easier option to hail a cab in the Austin area.

John Bouloubasis—president of YCA’s parent company, Texas Taxi—said the company chose zTrip, which is owned by Lombard, Illinois-based Transdev, because of its state-of-the-art features, such as choosing a taxicab or black-car service. YCA’s Hail A Cab app will still be operational, but customers will be transitioned over to the new zTrip app.

“zTrip is a further evolution in our use of technology and will build upon the initial Hail A Cab app that we previously utilized,” Bouloubasis said.

Through zTrip, customers can hail a cab on-demand or schedule a ride for a particular date, time and location. Customers may also save a credit card on file and pay for a ride through the app or choose to pay cash in the cab, Bouloubasis said.

“We feel this will give customers options,” he said. “It’s available in the city of Austin and surrounding areas as well as Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville and Georgetown.”

The service area also includes Cedar Park and Hutto, according to the zTrip website. About 30 other cities also use zTrip, Bouloubasis said.

He said YCA’s decision to use zTrip did not have anything to do with the departure of Uber and Lyft in May after Austin voters defeated repealing a city requirement for ride hailing companies to have drivers go through a fingerprint-based background check. He said the app has been in Austin for about a year in a soft launch.

“You won’t have to worry about surge pricing,” he said. “You know all the drivers in the vehicles have been licensed through the city and gone through a fingerprint background check. … You know you’re going to get into a car and feel safe.”

The zTrip app is available on Apple and Android platforms. Customers without those platforms may request a ride 24/7 through 1-855-699-8747. Bouloubasis said customers are not charged cancellation fees.

For taxicab service, call 512-444-1010, and for black-car service call 512-929-3900. Visit www.yellowcabaustin.com or www.ztrip.com for more information.