Ride-share request matching system and method

Real-time request matching system and method for matching free-form requests from users, such as requestors, to providers serving requests, each requestor having at least one communication device to match requests and direct the responses to them, and each of the providers having at least one communication device to address the requests and the respective responses thereto. The method comprises the steps of: receiving requests from applicants; for each request, provide the request to be relayed to the selected providers as addressed in this way; receive responses from selected providers, made by the respective providers based on the respective requests; and for each request, supply one or both of the information related to the respective applicant to any provider that has provided a positive response to the respective request, with a positive response indicating that a provider can comply with a request and information related to the responses. from the selected providers to the respective request to the respective requestor.