UBER launches new rider app

(PRESS RELEASE) - Colombo, November 2, 2016: Uber, the ridesharing app, today announced the launch of its new rider app, rebuilt completely from the ground up for the first time, since the last redesign in 2012. Re-engineered keeping in mind the changing needs of riders around the world, the new rider app aims to recapture the clean and simple aesthetic of the original Uber experience—without sacrificing the choice the riders now expect—a faster, smarter and more personalized rider app. Click here to get a sneak peek into thenew app. “We designed the new Uber app around you —and our core beliefs that time is a luxury and that the information you need should always be at your fingertips. Gone are the days when everyone’s app looks the same. The new Uber experience is reimagined around a simple question—“Where to?”. After all, you use Uber to get somewhere—or to someone. And by starting with your destination, we can tailor the journey to you,” - said Yuhki Yamashita, Senior Product Manager at Uber inhisblogpost. Here’s what has changed in the new rider app: ● Destination first: The new Uber experience is reimagined around a simple question—“Where to?” After all, riders use Uber to get somewhere—or to someone. And by starting with the rider destination, we can tailor the journey better. ● Shortcuts: The new Uber app learns from riders’ routines. So frequent riders will see “shortcuts” that predict where one could be headed. This means riders can get moving with just one tap. ● Calendar Integration: Soon, riders will also be able to connect their calendar with Uber. Once connected, the rider’s meetings and appointments will automatically appear as “shortcuts,” saving them the hassle of digging through another app to find the right address. ● People Search: We know that people use Uber to meet friends, whether it’s at a concert or a night out. This means the rider’s destination is often a person. But figuring out exactly where they are involves a lot of texting back and forth. We’ll soon be introducing a new feature we refer to as people are the new places that enables riders to set their destination to a person instead of a place. Riders just need to sync their contacts with the app, type their name into the search bar and once they’ve shared their location, the rider can get moving. ● Choose your car and compare upfront fare: After entering the destination in ‘where to’, rider can decide how to get there. We know riders prefer different types of ride for different moments. If the rider is on the way to a party or with business associates, a more spacious uberX ride is preferred, while an uberGO serves as the most affordable everyday ride. It’s now much easier to compare the cost of all these options with upfront fares, so the rider can make an informed choice. ● Once the rider is on trip, the focus is on helping them make the most of their ride. They can still split the fare, keep track of estimated time to destination and share trip status with friends. ● On trip integrations: Soon, we’ll offer more experiences tailored around rider destinations that will include on trip integrations with other utility based mobile applications, social media platforms, and news aggregators, amongst others. Starting today, the new app is rolling out globally on iOS and Android over the next several weeks. To learn more about the new Uber app, please visit uber.com/whereto. About Uber Uber is evolving the way the world moves. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our app, we make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders and more business for drivers. From our founding in 2009 to our launches in hundreds of cities today, Uber's rapidly expanding global presence continues to bring people and their cities closer. Today Uber is available in 450+ cities across 73 countries. www.uber.com