They are succeeding, but not to the extent of Uber/Lyft. Regulated taxi industry pricing is much higher than lyft or UberX pricing. If taxis get de-regulated and/or UberX/Lyft get regulated then Curb/Hailo/etc will be well positioned.
> Regulated taxi industry pricing is much higher than lyft or UberX pricing.
Empirically, it's a bit higher, but not much. A few data points from my recent experiences - I take a cab to work once or twice a week if I'm running late. The last 3 Ubers (UberX) I've taken were $11.02, $11.45 and $9.79. The last 3 Hailos I've taken were $12.29, $10.39 and $12.09. These are from similar times on similar workdays with similar traffic patterns. (Edit: this is in NYC and the Hailo fares include a 20% tip)
I'm thinking I'll pay the extra dollar from now on, worth it to avoid supporting these business practices. Although my biggest problem with Hailo has been availability - it's often impossible to get a Hailo near rush hour while Ubers are always available.
I suppose it depends on where you are using the services. In Los Angeles, after you factor in tip for a taxi driver, Uber and Lyft are about 40-50% cheaper. Here's Uber's analysis of the pricing in LA http://blog.uber.com/LAuberXpricecut
Uber controls its fate, though its success may be stymied by municipalities. Taking the business directly to cities puts the onus on them- a much harder proposition than providing a good service. I know which business I'd rather run.