Uber, the world’s largest ride-sharing company, launched m.uber.com a light web-based version of Uber in India. In addition to m.uber.com, the company also pilots three new app features – offline search, request for a guest and call to ride.
Daniel Graf, Vice President and Head of Product at Uber said
In India, we have a strong team of over 150 engineers and product champions in Bangalore and at the newly inaugurated Hyderabad engineering facility working on innovations and localization’s for markets around the world. As a part of our efforts to enable global access to Uber, we are focusing on two key areas for riders – building solutions for those who don’t have access to the Uber app and enabling our existing rider app to work better in emerging markets. Customer obsession is a key theme for us – we want to make sure we understand the rider, their needs, the barriers, and then build from there. We believe these features will help us better serve our rider needs and are very excited about the roll out.
M.uber.com – The light web-based version of Uber, m.uber.com provides riders with another convenient option to book an Uber. This feature will be helpful for riders who have basic smartphones, that can support web browsing but cannot support mobile apps due to limited storage space, or want to book a ride from a tablet or computer.
How it works
- The experience is almost identical to the Uber app with a few modifications for improved performance on a browser, including the option to load the map
- Open your browser, enter m.uber.com, browse the app and available options, sign into your Uber account when ready to book
- Enter your destination, select your product as you normally would and confirm your ride
- You will be able to follow along on the map as you normally
Call to ride – Calling over the phone is still a natural experience for emerging markets, and we have heard that some riders in India prefer booking a ride through a phone call. We are piloting a phone number that riders can call to book an Uber across popular zones in a city. This will be particularly useful for riders who only have a feature phone, areas with limited network or those who use a smartphone but have limited memory capacity or are running out of their data plan.
How it works
- Riders can call single nationwide phone number and enter a numeric code displayed on signage to help Uber identify their location
- Once the ride is confirmed, the rider will also be sent a text message with information on the car and driver partner
- An Uber will arrive at the exact location for easy pickups
- The rider pays with cash at the end of the ride
Availability : This would be rolled out in Pune on a pilot basis.
Offline search – For riders using the app in limited network areas, Uber is enabling offline search by caching the top points of interest in the city so that riders can enter their destinations in the app without having to wait for the connection.
How it works
- The feature will automatically work if the app detects limited networks
Availability : Rollout begins in the next few weeks
Request for a Guest – A fully redesigned and enhanced feature, riders will now be able to book an Uber for a loved one from from their Uber app no matter where the rider or guest is located. Their guest does not need a smartphone or the Uber app in order to ride.
How it works
- To use this feature, the person requesting the ride for a guest can simply tap ‘Where to?’ as they normally would, then choose who is riding above their pickup location
- The rider will receive trip information in an SMS text message – including ETA, car type, and driver contact information, enabling them to coordinate with the driver directly
- The driver will see the rider’s name, and be able to contact that person, too [through a masked number, for privacy on both sides]
- The ride will be charged to the requestor’s card on file unless the requestor selects cash as the payment
Availability : Rollout begins in the next few weeks