In what comes as a good news to all those rely on app-based taxi service, Uber has rolled out a ‘Request a Ride for Others,’ feature specifically meant for regular users to help those who don’t have the app installed or an account registered.
This is the second India-specific feature in a week and can be seen as an attempt to reach out to the Indian audience. Earlier, Uber had rolled out the ‘Dial an Uber’ feature that allowed users in India to access the company’s ride-hailing services in select cities without requiring the app.
Apart from wooing the Indian audience, it is also aimed at emerging markets as there are a lot of users with budget smartphones that have low inbuilt storage, expensive data plans and poor connectivity. The ‘Dial an Uber’ facilitated the booking of a cab with the mobile site without the Uber app.
Explaining the need for the Request a Ride for Others feature, Uber in a press statement said, “Often people who need reliable rides the most, such as the elderly, don’t have smartphones or have never downloaded an app. ‘Request a Ride for Others’ empowers current Uber users across all cities in India to book a ride on behalf of their family and friends, so more people can get access to reliable transportation.”
To be able to use the Request a Ride for Others feature, users will need to have the latest version of the Uber app installed on their smartphones. After that through a pin or directly by entering pickup location they can order a ride for others. They will then be prompted to choose who the ride is for, and can either select a contact from their phonebook, or enter a phone number. Users can then choose payment method, enabling the rider to pay with cash at the destination or pay for the rider themselves electronically.
The rider will then receive two SMS messages, one with the driver and car information, and the other with a link to track the ride. The driver will be given the rider’s phone number to coordinate the pickup. Uber users will be able to track the ride from within the app, putting fears of security at rest.
