Uber adds live location sharing to app, plans to deploy 24,000 self-driving Volvo SUVs
Uber on Monday revealed several new features for its core iPhone app -- including live location sharing with drivers -- as well as an agreement with Volvo that will see it buy and equip 24,000 vehicles with self-driving systems.
The app's live location option can be toggled by tapping a round button in the lower-right corner of the map. When on, a rider's actual position is broadcast to an incoming driver, instead of just the original pickup point.
Uber has additionally expanded its Beacon support to Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco. Beacons are mounted in drivers' windshields, and glow a rider-selected color to make it easier to pair up. That color in turn takes over a rider's screen, allowing them to flash their phone to get attention.
The app now also includes gifting options, and the ability to order a ride for a guest even if they don't have a smartphone. After selecting a different rider, that person will will get an SMS message with details like ETA and their driver's contact information.
The Volvo deal will see Uber buy XC90 SUVs in a period stretching from 2019 to 2021, according to Bloomberg. Uber will outfit the vehicles with its own sensors and software.
Volvo's engineers have reportedly been working closely with Uber on a "base" driveless vehicle that the latter company can add on to. In exchange, though, Volvo will be able to use the same platform for its own commercial self-driving cars, due in 2021.
Uber has been testing autonomous vehicles in some markets, with the eventual goal of completely replacing its human driver pool. The company hasn't set a definite timeframe for when it will exit testing.
The app's live location option can be toggled by tapping a round button in the lower-right corner of the map. When on, a rider's actual position is broadcast to an incoming driver, instead of just the original pickup point.
Uber has additionally expanded its Beacon support to Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco. Beacons are mounted in drivers' windshields, and glow a rider-selected color to make it easier to pair up. That color in turn takes over a rider's screen, allowing them to flash their phone to get attention.
The app now also includes gifting options, and the ability to order a ride for a guest even if they don't have a smartphone. After selecting a different rider, that person will will get an SMS message with details like ETA and their driver's contact information.
The Volvo deal will see Uber buy XC90 SUVs in a period stretching from 2019 to 2021, according to Bloomberg. Uber will outfit the vehicles with its own sensors and software.
Volvo's engineers have reportedly been working closely with Uber on a "base" driveless vehicle that the latter company can add on to. In exchange, though, Volvo will be able to use the same platform for its own commercial self-driving cars, due in 2021.
Uber has been testing autonomous vehicles in some markets, with the eventual goal of completely replacing its human driver pool. The company hasn't set a definite timeframe for when it will exit testing.
Comments
Not sure this is a good idea for Uber. Their whole business model is based on the idea that they don't own any vehicles, or employ drivers, so the costs of maintenance and liability are the responsibility of the people who drive for them.
This is almost as big a reversal of their policy as finally admitting they're a taxi company and volunteering to be governed by the same rules.
I don't trust Uber either, but this new, "live location sharing" is really just a new feature to the existing app.
But I suppose if you're going to lose hundreds of millions of dollars a month, you might has well but tens of thousands of Volvos.
Bizarre.
At first I thought that I would invest, but if the cost of every vehicle is at least $60,000 and staff to maintain, service, and clean the vehicle along with paying extra for fuels stations, i just can't see how they are going to make money.
I hope they do come to market and take on all the long unprofitable rides - busy cities are going to be tough unless they lease paces to pick up passengers; then that is another cost.
The idea of buying in an initial public offer is definitely something I will do, but I will eventually sell.
How can they be profitable? One idea is to have the car full of monitors for advertising purposes and maybe some other forms of advertising like a human in the car to promote local products.
"Personal information belonging to about 57 million Uber customers and drivers was stolen by hackers last October, a breach the company kept hidden for a year and for which its chief security officer was fired this week.
...
Uber discovered that instead of notifying regulators and the affected individuals it had "identified the individuals and obtained assurances that the downloaded data had been destroyed," he wrote.
Bloomberg reported Tuesday afternoon that the company actually paid the hackers $100,000 to delete the data and keep mum about it."