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Tag: Uber

  • Still Use BBM? You Can Now Book An Uber From BBM

    Still Use BBM? You Can Now Book An Uber From BBM

    BBM was all the rage back in the day when iOS and Android were just starting out. Although the BlackBerry OS appealed to the professionals more because of the security features but, BBM gained popularity thanks to its iMessaging-like exclusivity. This was also before WhatsApp and other IM services gained popularity.

    However, over the past few years, BBM and BalckBerry OS are virtually dead in most of the western market. However, there are some parts of the world where people have clung on to BBM. Now run by Indonesian telco Emtek, BBM still maintains a decent following in Indonesia, other parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

    In association with BBM, Uber will now users to book a ride from inside the chat app within the ‘discover’ menu. The feature will go live in selected countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

    BBM will do a one-up over WhatsApp since it doesn’t have a feature like this to compete with BBM. However, with its ever-growing popularity, WhatsApp doesn’t appear to be competing with the dwindling by-gone messaging service BBM. This move is more to do with Uber targeting Indonesia than BBM coming up with a feature to resurrect itself in the world of instant messaging.

    Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country and Uber will try to gain impetus in the Southeast Asian country. The ride-hailing business in Indonesia has grown to US $1.5 billion in 2017 and a higher growth is projected in the coming years.

    The BBM partnership makes use of Uber’s web-based app, ‘m.uber’ which offers features you’d find in a regular app but comes suited to poor quality connections and lower-end devices.

    [poll id=”57″]

  • Uber Charged A Rider US $14,000 For His US $20 Ride

    Uber Charged A Rider US $14,000 For His US $20 Ride

    For anyone living in metro cities, travelling by Uber is common. While we all have complained about the surge pricing on social media, it is true that cab booking services are an integral part of an average human being. But, sometimes the service messes up and charges you more than you were supposed to. Uber charged a consumer in Canada US $14000 for a ride that was supposed to be $20!

    The company did refund the money eventually, but not immediately. And this isn’t the first time its system has overcharged customers by thousands of dollars.

    Uber responded to the error:

    There was an error here, and it has been resolved. We have provided a full refund to this rider and apologized to him for this experience. We have safeguards in place to help prevent something like this from happening, and we are working to understand how this occurred.

    This isn’t the first time that Uber has charged way more for a ride than it is supposed to be. In 2016, Uber charged a resident in Philadelphia, USA $30,000 for a ride due to a glitch. In 2015, a woman in Manhattan, New York was charged $12,000 for a $56.40 ride.

  • Uber Just Bought Over 100,000 Self Driving Mercedes Benz S-Class

    Uber Just Bought Over 100,000 Self Driving Mercedes Benz S-Class

    Easy go taxi app “Uber” has reportedly purchased 100,000 Mercedes Benz S Class vehicles. Till now Uber owned no cars of its own. Germany’s Manager Magazin, claims that both Uber and Mercedes are both investing heavily in making autonomous cars a reality.

    This deal which sets the delivery in the future is for Mercedez Benz and Uber technology which will allow the cars to be Autonomous. It is estimated that the deliveries for the said vehicles will begin early 2020, according to Stuttgart. The premium S-Class has been able to park, maintain safe distances from other cars in tight, stop-and-go traffic without the aid of a driver, these features are said to be enhaced over the next few years to allow more capabilites.

    A deal which is in the upper region of 10 Billion Euros, is set to compete against the various other companies aiming to make autonomous cars including the likes of Tesla.

    Source

     

  • Airbus and Uber Partner to Provide On-Demand Helicopter Service

    Airbus and Uber Partner to Provide On-Demand Helicopter Service

    After taking over your city roads, Uber now has plans to take over the vacant skies too with its latest marketing strategy. According to reports, the famous on-demand cab service will be partnering with Airbus to bring to its customer base a new offering, one which will involve helicopters to ferry them around the city.

    MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 14: In this photo illustration the new smart phone taxi app 'Uber' shows how to select a pick up location at Cibeles Square on October 14, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. 'Uber' application started to operate in Madrid last September despite Taxi drivers claim it is an illegal activity and its drivers currently operate without a license. 'Uber' is an American based company which is quickly expanding to some of the main cities from around the world. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

    According to the information disseminated by the company, this will be a pilot project which will include helicopter rides around Utah city during the Sundance Film Festival this month. Reports further cite, that the service will use H125 and H130 helicopters to ferry passengers. Uber will use its cars to get passengers to and from the landing site. Pretty innovative indeed.

    Uber has offered helicopter rides before. In 2013, it tried this idea during the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix in Austin. The rides cost a minimum of several hundred dollars back then, and it is expected that these rides during the Sundance Film Festival will also cost a bomb. Nonetheless, this is a positive move and shows that both Uber and Airbus are looking to expand their horizons for potential customers.

    We can’t really say if something like this could be done in India soon, or for that matter, if at all it’ll be rejected outright because of the high fare of such Uber powered helicopter rides, but one thing we do know for a fact is, it’ll be pretty cool to see Uber Helicopters show up on our Uber smartphone app.

  • Uber Fined $20,000 Over ‘God View’ Tool in the US

    Uber Fined $20,000 Over ‘God View’ Tool in the US

    Uber’s ‘God View’ tool allowed employees to access and track the location of Uber drivers and customers without their permission or their knowledge. The company ran into trouble with the tool in 2014 when an Uber executive tracked the whereabouts of a Buzzfeed journalist while she was not aware of it.

    When the issue was brought out in the public, required action was taken against the executive. The concerned executive explained the act by saying the reporter’s location was monitored because she was 30 minutes late for a meeting. Uber later declared the act to be one of “poor judgement”.uber-taxiHowever, the cat was out of the bag now and had attracted the attention of the lawmakers. What started in 2014 has now finally concluded with a $20,000 fine being imposed on Uber. The settlement was reached between the company and New York Defence Attorney General  Eric Schneiderman yesterday.

    The settlement also requires Uber to revise its privacy policy. Geolocation for both the driver and the customer would now be encrypted and password protected. Additionally, ‘God View’ would now be available only to a handful of employees, unlike before when a large number of them could use it. The use of the tool is justified only for “legitimate business purposes”, says the company.

  • Ola Will Counter Uber by Launching its Own Courier Service in India

    Ola Will Counter Uber by Launching its Own Courier Service in India

    It seems Ola is bent on conquering the Indian market before its rival Uber does. After venturing into food delivery service and groceries, the company now wants to get into logistics services. According to a report, Ola has started testing a delivery service along the lines of UberRUSH, Uber’s courier service. The service will reportedly launch by mid-July.

    As reported, the service will deliver shopping orders at the customer’s doorstep within three hours. Apart from that, customers can also use Ola app for various purposes, from sending parcels to picking up laundry. Ola is said to have tied up with several businesses including florists, bakeries, laundries and ice-cream parlors. Moreover, apart from cabs, the deliveries will also be carried out on motorbikes and bicycles.

    It will be interesting to see how Ola’s new move will disrupt the traditional logistics service. Ola already operates more than 18000 taxis across India, and if the company adds bicycles and motorbikes for its delivery service, it could become one of the most efficient logistics services in the country. It will be a matter of concern for major logistic providers such as BlueDart and DTDC if Ola decides to foray into shipping services. So far, there is no mention of such intentions by Ola.

    Ola is probably playing it smarter by launching a service similar to Uber’s courier service before Uber does it. If the move is successful, Ola might achieve the same level of success that Uber has achieved in the US.

    Source : [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.bgr.in/news/ola-to-launch-an-uberrush-like-courier-service-in-india-report/”]BGR[/tw-button] [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/ola-set-to-do-a-uber-in-india-with-collection-and-delivery-service/article7367614.ece”]The Hindu Business Line[/tw-button]

  • Uber Acquires Microsoft’s Mapping Data to Boost its Service

    Uber Acquires Microsoft’s Mapping Data to Boost its Service

    Any successful transportation company in the world relies heavily on maps. Uber’s app is basically a navigation app but with additional features like booking a cab and GPS. Recognizing how crucial maps are for its operations, Uber has acquired the mapping assets from Microsoft, which include data center, cameras, intellectual property, and roughly 100 engineers.

    Microsoft has confirmed that it will no longer collect mapping data as it efforts to focus on the company’s core business strategy. Microsoft usually sources mapping data from Nokia and other partners for maps but it also used to collect its own 3D, aerial and street view maps.

    Microsoft said in a recent statement

    We will no longer collect mapping imagery ourselves, and instead will continue to partner with premium content and imagery providers for underlying data while concentrating our resources on the core user experience. With this decision, we will transfer many of our imagery acquisition operations to Uber.

    Uber has been trying to strengthen its own mapping system. The company recently hired former Google Map executive Brian McClendon and with the latest acquisition from Microsoft, Uber aims to make its service better. Uber also wants to reduce its dependency on Google Maps, the go-to map service.

    Uber said in a statement

    Mapping is at the heart of what makes Uber great. So we will continue to work with partners, as well as invest in our own technology, to build the best possible experience for riders and drivers.

    Microsoft will still continue to offer its maps services through Bing Maps using licensed data.

  • Uber is Trying To Win Back Delhi By Offering Insane Discounts

    Uber is Trying To Win Back Delhi By Offering Insane Discounts

    It’s evident Uber is trying very hard to gain back lost ground in the capital. Post the rape incident, which nudged the government to look into the workings of app-based cab services, Uber has been banned to operate in Delhi several times. But the company keeps bouncing back.

    The company would know, it is serious business when you’re trying to revive your business. Recently, for the people of Delhi, Uber announced a promotional offer that will allow customers to ride for as low as Rs 4.3/km.

    The offer is at an extreme rate. Normally for an UberX ride, the charges are R.s 9/km with Rs 55 as base fare and for a Uber Black cab; it is Rs. 12/km with Rs 85 as a base fare.

    Another offer currently running, which Delhites should take advantage of – using the promo code DELHI40, customers can avail up to 40% discount on the charges. The offer is applicable for just twice a day from 12 pm to 4pm, till 26th of June.

    Customers can access this premium offer from both, the web version of Uber as well as the mobile application. For people using their services for daily transport, this is quite an attractive deal. There are only two more days left on this promotional offer, so make sure you use it to your benefit.

    Uber was away from Delhi roads for quite some time while its competitors like Ola Cabs and TaxiForSure were carrying on their business smoothly. Uber also cleared its intentions regarding the security of the passengers saying that it is allowing only those “driving-partners who have undergone re-verification of their Police clearance in the last six weeks to get back on the platform.” Also, they are crossing the details of the drivers at their ends as well.

    Also, Uber has developed some safety features that will be implanted in the vehicles nationwide. The security measures include an in-app emergency button, through which passenger can report about possible danger. It is also in process of forming a dedicated incident response team.

  • Cash Payment In Uber Cabs Rolls Out For Some Users In Hyderabad

    Cash Payment In Uber Cabs Rolls Out For Some Users In Hyderabad

    India is a country where more than half of its population still pay their daily expenses using direct cash rather than through credit cards. It is due to this fact alone that Uber is lagging behind Ola Cabs, which holds on to about 80% of the organised cab market here. But, this scenario may change soon enough for Uber, keeping in mind the fact that the taxi company is now conducting an experimental test in the city of Hyderabad that will soon enable riders to pay drivers directly in cash after their taxi ride

    Uber users just have to open the app, go to payment options and select cash as the payment option. This will enable the user to pay the cash directly after the ride. But, this option won’t be available for everyone for now as this phase has just been rolled out. The company said the cash option will be accessible to everyone in Hyderabad within a week’s time. Minimum pay balance in the user’s PayTm wallet will not be necessary, and there would be no booking fee or additional charges to riders.

    Uber said that if the cash payment system works out well in Hyderabad, other cities in India will soon be able to do the same in the coming few months. Last month, following a similar scheme, Uber had launched UberAuto, an auto hauling service that accepts cash payments.

  • Domino’s App Might Soon Allow You to Track Your Order Minute by Minute

    Domino’s App Might Soon Allow You to Track Your Order Minute by Minute

    Soon, waiting for your pizza to arrive on your doorsteps will get slightly less agonizing. Inspired by Uber’s ridesharing app that allows you to keep a track of your cab in real time via a map, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises plans on creating a similar app that will allow you to track your pizza in real time. Domino’s Pizza Enterprise is the master franchise holding the rights to Domino’s brand in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, and Netherlands.

    dominos

    This new app will allow the users to follow their order on smartphones, tablets or TV screens. When asked about the theory behind this app, Chief Executive, Don Meij, said that in a delivery system, the time taken to reach the consumer since the order is dispatched remains a dark spot, and now, it will be fully disclosed and transparent.

    The tracker will show a map in real time and a tracker tracking your order. To make the app less dull and dreary, Domino’s plans to include the driver’s name and his personal details like his favourite football team, what type of music they are playing while delivering the order and what speed they are driving at. Meij also said that the app will concentrate on improving road safety. By shrinking the waiting time, errant driver behavior can be reduced. Domino’s delivery team has had quite a history of acquiring dangerous habits like speeding and taking sharp corners.

    For now, this app will be available in Australia and New Zealand by the end of July. Dominoes plans to bring the service to Netherlands, Japan, France and Belgium by the end of this year. Hopefully, Indians will have the service in their hands soon after.

  • You Can Now Book an Uber Cab Using Your Zomato App

    You Can Now Book an Uber Cab Using Your Zomato App

    Zomato is collaborating with the cab company, Uber, to help customers book cabs to the restaurant they are planning to eat at. This announcement came after Zomato acquired NexTable, an online table reservation app based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

    This partnership has been rolled out to Zomato users across 27 cities across 13 countries including India, Australia, Canada, UK, Indonesia, South Africa, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Turkey, Portugal, UAE and the US. The feature is already live for users in London and South Africa, and it will roll out soon in the other countries mentioned.

    Commenting on the new feature, Pankaj Chaddah, Co-Founder and COO of Zomato, said:

    [quote text_size=”small” author=”Pankaj Chaddah” author_title=”Co-Founder and COO of Zomato”]

    We’re constantly looking for ways to make every meal, for everyone, a great experience. This partnership makes eating out more convenient with the Zomato app connecting to Uber services seamlessly.

    [/quote]

    How does it work? Once you have found a suitable restaurant on the Zomato, an Uber button appears on the restaurant page. This shows the estimated fare and the time required for the cab to arrive at your location, hence serving your needs. Seems like a  favourable development for both the companies, as well as the customers.

  • Delhi Government Asks IT Ministry to Block Uber, Meru Genie and Ola Mobile Apps

    Delhi Government Asks IT Ministry to Block Uber, Meru Genie and Ola Mobile Apps

    The app-based taxi services have made it possible for us to travel with ease. What more can one expect than a car waiting at your doorstep? But the question still hovers around their registration issues.

    Recent news points out that the Union Information Technology Ministry has been asked by the Delhi Government to block the mobile applications of Ola, Uber and Meru Genie taxi-hailing companies. That means soon these taxi service providers are going to cease their operations, unless they receive their licence in time.

    This nationwide ban was issued for all unregistered web-based taxi companies in December last year because of a knee-jerk reaction to the rape of a female in the capital by a Uber driver. In spite of this ban, Uber the US-based taxi service company brought out UberX, a low-cost option with a new revised fare charts to operate in January. Ola, backed by Japan’s SoftBank Corp also applied for a radio taxi license, and they continued to contravene the December order.

    As of now, license has been provided to Easy Cab, Yo Cab, Mega Cab, Meru Cab, Chanson Cab and Air Cab by the Delhi Transport Authority.

    The government opines that they are not against these public convenient services. But they’d like them to follow proper guidelines by installing a GPS tracking system and an emergency button in the cabs for the sake of their smooth operation.

    By Ritam Talukdar

  • Ola Now Delivers Food At Your Doorstep Within 20 Minutes With Ola Cafe

    Ola Now Delivers Food At Your Doorstep Within 20 Minutes With Ola Cafe

    Taxi aggregator service, Ola is one of the most prominent cab services on the Indian roads. It is currently in the process of raising Rs. 2500 crores to expand its business. While it’s taking care of its fundraising efforts, the company has launched a new food delivery service called Ola Cafe. This services will be well appreciated by working professionals.

    Ola Cafe will be added to the existing app so won’t have to clutter your device by adding a new app. It will be available to users in select localities of Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai. Lunch is served from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, snacks are served from 3:00 PM to 7.00 PM while dinner is served from 7:00 PM to 11.00 PM.

    Users can choose the item of their choice from the menu and specify the quantity and then place the order. The payment for the meals can be done through Ola Money or directly through cash. The company says it will deliver food within 20 minutes of order.

    Ola Cafe

    You can also cancel the order before it’s delivered. You can cancel the order from the app itself or by calling Ola. You cannot cancel the order once it’s delivered. You also cannot order the meals to a separate location as your current location is taken by default as the delivery address.

    Ola had previously stated that it would enter the product delivery space, and food is as good a product to understand the challenges of a delivery business. It is not sure as of yet as to how many of its vehicles will be engaged in its food delivery wing. Ola had earlier stated that it has a fleet of 1 Lakh taxis across India, but it still is struggling to meet the growing demand for its basic cab service.

    Ola’s prime competition, Uber has already launched a similar service called UberFRESH in America where it deliver lunch and dinner . Uber also delivers groceries, medicines, chocolates and a lot more in the United States. So it’s clear that Ola wants to beat Uber in the delivery business by having the first mover advantage in the massive Indian market.

  • Uber Slashes Prices By Up to 40 Percent To Gather Lost Ground

    Uber Slashes Prices By Up to 40 Percent To Gather Lost Ground

    Uber, the ride sharing service has had its share of misfortunes in India. The company that was briefly banned following a much-publicized rape incident has got back in business for over a month. It is trying to attract customers back to its service and has slashed the rates by 40% across all its services.

    Uber provides three kinds of services; UberGO, uberX and UberBLACK. With UberGO, the company claims to provide rates cheaper than autorickshaws. Uber X lets users choose from mainstream sedans whereas Uber Black lets users access more premium cars. The company has slashed prices of all these cars.

    Here are the new revised rates:

    Delhi

      Fares UberGO UberX UberBLACK
    Tariff Rs. 7 /KM Rs. 9/Km Rs. 12/Km.
    Base Fare Rs. 25 Rs. 40 Rs. 0
    Minimum Fare Rs. 50 Rs. 80 Rs. 100
     Per Minute Charge Rs. 1 Rs. 1 Rs. 1.50

    Mumbai

      Fares UberGO UberX UberBLACK
    Tariff Rs. 8 /KM Rs. 10/Km Rs. 13/Km.
    Minimum Fare Rs. 60 Rs. 100 Rs. 150

    Bangalore

      Fares UberGO UberX UberBLACK
    Tariff Rs. 7 /KM Rs. 8/Km Rs. 13/Km.
    Minimum Fare Rs. 50 Rs. 75 Rs. 120

    Uber had also introduced a slew of safety measures to clear the perception of its brand name in the market. These measures include a panic button in the mobile app, sharing location data with up to five contacts. The company also established a local Incident Response Team to handle emergency situations. Uber seems to be proactively trying every weapon in its arsenal to attract the customers back to its service. Hopefully, the company after learning its lessons the hard way, is ready to be a responsible business at least here in India.

  • Uber Gets Responsible, Adds Panic Button in its Mobile App for India

    Uber Gets Responsible, Adds Panic Button in its Mobile App for India

    Uber has faced a barrage of criticism in the past. Whether it’s for unethical business practices or the behavior of its drivers. The company was in the news again in India last year following an incident of rape which also led to it facing a temporary ban. Now the company is trying to revamp its perception and has added security features on its smartphone app.

    From February 11th, Uber users will get a panic (SOS) button in their app which will allow users to share their location with up to five friends. In the case of an emergency, the user would just have to press the button, and it will alert the nearest police station.

    Uber panic

    Apart from the new in-app features, Uber will also establish local Incident Response Team to handle emergency situations. This team would also be alerted when the panic button is pressed, and it will assist the riders during the emergency situation.

    In its blog post, the company has also mentioned its focus on police verification. It says that every new driver interested in partnering with Uber is directed to the crime branch for police verification.

    Uber has been credited with revamping the cab business for the 21st century and now with these enhanced security features, it seems everything will be back on track.

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