When it comes to the exciting, emerging, exploding, area of location-based services (LBS), there really should be a sort of universal prime directive. Here it is:  ”Don’t be Creepy”

Cabulous is a new service from UpStart Mobile , and UpStart’s mantra is – wait for it – yeah: “Don’t Be Creepy!” (It’s kinda like Google’s “don’t be evil”.)

Cabulous lets you see nearby taxis on your smartphone map – the exact location of actual drivers. But it does not let anyone see you. You reveal your position only when you hail a specific driver and choose to let him – and only him – see where you are. (Presumably at that point you want the driver to know where you are.) If you do nothing else, your position disappears after a few minutes, and not even we at UpStart Mobile can tell where you are.

Ruling from the prime directive judges: Not so creepy.
(Just kidding…there really aren’t any prime directive judges, though we are talking to Leonard Nimoy and Shatner about it.)

So if you are looking for a Taxi App – make sure that it passes the creepy test and doesn’t do things like send your position to a bunch of drivers you don’t know. The only driver who should see where you are is the one you hail.