By now, most people have at least heard of Uber, Lyft, Sidecar and other modern taxicab alternatives, even if they have not experienced for themselves the innovative services that enable customers to virtually “hail a ride” by logging into a smartphone app and clicking a button.

Known as “digital dispatch services,” companies like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar connect passengers with drivers via the Internet and are spreading fast in major cities around the globe, including in cities right here in North Carolina.