For those of you who prefer to use the convenience of Uber anytime you either don’t feel like driving or taking public transportation, it is often rather creepy for some individuals when they receive a text from an unknown number (which usually turns out to be the driver) asking, “Where are you?” If the driver is unable to find you or if you do not answer their text or call they will either drive away if they do not see you or honk their horn at someone who they think is you until that person either gets in the car or walks away.
Uber has recently created a solution to these problems: in-app messaging. Users can now message their driver by going into the app and selecting “contact” then ”chat” in the feed section of the Uber app, then message the driver and give them details about their location in order to ensure an easy pickup. However, some may be wondering about the driver texting while he is driving, but no need to worry, Uber has developed a solution, the messages will be read out loud to the driver, who will be able to respond with a quick “thumbs-up” emoji with one tap. Both the riders and the drivers will be able to see if their chats were delivered and read in order to make sure there is good communication between the two.
Uber will be using new technology that will be able to hide the rider and driver’s actual phone number when texting outside of the app, however, this technology will only be available in the U.S. which is partly why Uber created this new messaging system which will also hide the rider and river’s phone numbers from each other, this new feature will be especially useful in budding Uber markets outside of the U.S.
Since the creation of Uber, the app has been mainly a driving service with the goal of getting riders from to their destination in the shortest amount of time and for a reasonable price. The company has mainly bee about convenience. But now the Uber seems to want to do more with its app and has shown that through the creation of custom Snapchat filters, calendar integrations, and even using friends as destination locations. The company has already expanded their business more and more through UberEATS a delivery service in which the driver will buy and deliver food to your house for a very reasonable price, the company has also been reportedly looking into expanding into social media sharing, IRL meet-ups and more. The app has even recently allowed people to alter their location even when their driver is on the way, with all these new features, Uber will continue to expand more and more.
