Uber on Wednesday unveiled a range of new features, including an alternative for riders who face difficulty in hailing a car directly from the app – or don’t have a smartphone.
The introduced service enables riders to dial 1-833-USE-UBER and request a car for pickup, providing them with an additional means to secure a ride instead of relying solely on the app.
“We all know that not everyone is comfortable using a phone or an app to call an Uber, like my mother-in-law,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said. “What could be easier for her?”
Under the new feature, riders could call the number, be verbally given a price, and once confirmed, would get a text message with the driver’s details and expected arrival time.
The new feature will prove to be especially useful for many Orthodox Jews who have resisted acquiring a smartphone – along with the 31% of Americans over 50 who don’t own a smartphone, according to a 2021 Pew survey.
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6 Responses
I guess Fruber might go out of business.
Unfortunately this would put a frum owned business called FRUBER, out of business.
I have used their service for quiet a few years
The price will be steep because most customers will not compare prices. Most localities have a price sheet which local taxis are supposed to abide by. Uber or Fruber have no requirement to follow those rates.
“The price will be steep because most customers will not compare prices…”
Most customers who use Uber are doing so for the convenience and ride quality and don’t usually “compare” prices with traditional taxi service. They expect to pay a higher price than a regulated taxi service. The best comparison is with Lyft which in recent months has been consistently lower priced than Uber (at least when comparing Lyft Preffered to Uber X).
Is this only in the USA?
There is also Tremp, that works worldwide with both Uber and Lyft. It offers fully automated ride booking, through text or dial-in.