A taxi driver use Didi, a cab-hailing app to find customers in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 18, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

In 2013, more apps appeared, including Didi Taxi and Kuaidi Taxi. Most smartphone users were enthusiastic. On platforms like micro blog Sina Weibo and WeChat, users posted their experiences of using apps to successfully grab cabs.

However, a debate has stirred among users, especially after an extreme example was posted by an anonymous driver, who tweeted his story on Weibo, which spread.

He said he received an order from a customer near a hospital. On his way, he saw a senior citizen who might have been waving for taxi in the chilly winter for a long time. The driver couldn't pick him because he was supposed to collect the young man who sent the order through a smartphone. If he didn't, there would be a complaint.

"I uninstalled these apps, because they made me serve young high-tech people. What about those old people who want to take a taxi?" he wrote.

The debate had gone nationwide when IT giants Tencent and Alibaba stepped in this February.

Cheng Wei, founder of Didi Taxi, announced that people could pay their taxi bill via WeChat, an app developed by Tencent. If the order is made in this way, WeChat will pay another 10 to 14 yuan to the driver, and will pay part of the fee for the customer.

Kuaidi Taxi also announced similar subsidies for drivers and users. It collaborated with Alipay, an online payment escrow service offered by Alibaba.

High-tech users and drivers will save a lot of money, but regular taxi users complain that it's now much harder to grab a cab on the street, because drivers prefer to pick up customers who use these apps and offer extra tips.

Beijing taxi driver Xu Shugang, 45, installed these applications, and he says he has no time to worry about those who wave to him on the street.

"Of course I pick up customers who pay more," the driver says, with two apps turned on. Now he does not even listen to the radio, but focuses on "getting a good order" on these apps.

Taxi apps' battle remains white-hot in China

Videographic: the battle of the taxi apps