Abstract: The invention provide means for enabling customers to request bids from various service providers in one or more virtual marketplaces created by an administrator, principally for transportation services such as taxis and limousines, delivery and cargo transport operations. In turn, customers receive a list of quality bids, filtered and ranked for various optimizing criteria, in a personalized bid display portion of a user application on a handheld device or PC. And, means for enabling service providers to access and interact with customers after a transaction produce highly personalized and customizable relationships, in part by incorporating elements of a social media platform and including positive incentives, thereby enabling both customers and service providers to benefit from increased efficiency and personalized control.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology, by way of a bidirectional communication, allow a user of a handheld device with phone and/or data service to submit a request for bid for transport service, a registered user in a specific geography may respond to requests for bids.