People will likely need to pay to reserve a taxi again after enjoying the free service for years as authorities in Shanghai are considering relieving cost pressures on taxi operators.

The price to book a cab by phone is not available as discussions are ongoing.

Though there's still a category referred to as "call service charge" on many taxi receipts, it has been left blank since 1999, when cab firms canceled the service charge to promote business, industry insiders said.

However, growing competition, rising gas prices, and mounting operating costs of call center pushed taxi firms to reconsider.

"The average cost, including hiring the call center staff, resulting from each phone call was more than 3 yuan," said Ling Dongshu, a company official with Dazhong taxi fleet.

The firm now employs more than 100 people to support its call center.

Industry insiders said a call center with 100 employees would cost a company about 3 million each year in wages alone. By the end of next year, the city's 40,000 cabs will join a united call center.

(Shanghai Daily February 10, 2006)