UberTAXI is now live in D.C. for residents that want to hail a taxi on their smartphone

Uber is going a step further in trying to corner the transportation market by launching its e-hail taxi service in D.C. as well. The launch of UberTAXI there will give users the choice of hailing one of Uber’s sedans at a premium, or hailing a cab at about the same rate that it would usually cost, with a few extra charges tacked.

One important difference between UberTAXI and just hailing a cab on the street is the price: In addition to the cab fare — which is taken off the meter and punched into the driver’s Uber app — Uber will charge a $2 dispatch fee for using its service. Oh, and it will automatically charge a 20 percent gratuity on top, to ensure people are tipping appropriately.