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Uber's back on Windows Phone minus some key features
If you've hailed an Uber ride on a Windows Phone handset, you're aware that the you were beamed to the service's mobile site rather via a full-fledged app. That changed today, as the taxi outfit returns to Microsoft's mobile OS with proper software. This means users can lock in location, call for a ride and sort payments with a properly equipped handset. Uber's app is missing a few key features though, as in-app fare quotes, sharable trip info and fare splitting are on the way soon. While that's a bit of a bummer, the new version is available now for those looking to take advantage.
Seoul plans to ban Uber and introduce its own GPS-based app for taxis
Uber may win some and lose some, but the battles rage on in cities where it operates. Seoul, Korea has now indicated that it would outright ban Uber, calling it illegal and harmful to taxi drivers. Uber operates its UberBLACK service there to connect professional chauffeurs to passengers via its app. That differs from UberX, UberPOP or Lyft -- the services that have faced the most bans and protests -- since those mostly use non-professional drivers. Seoul's city council called Uber an illegal threat to traditional cabs, since its drivers didn't have the usual insurance and safety controls. However, Uber told the WSJ that the city council's comments "show Seoul is in danger of remaining trapped in the past and getting left behind by the global 'sharing economy' movement." Despite that, the city must feel Uber is doing something right -- it said that it would soon launch its own, Uber-like geo-location app to connect regular taxis to passengers.
Seattle votes to legalize ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber
It's official: following an earlier agreement, Seattle council members have voted eight to one in favor of legalizing transportation network companies. The move lets ridesharing outfits like Lyft and UberX operate in the West coast city without fear of bans or driver caps, so long as they get the appropriate license and otherwise obey relatively light regulations. Conventional cab drivers, meanwhile, get a break through 200 additional taxi licenses. The council is expected to take a second look at ridesharing during its next legislative session to see if there's a need for stricter requirements. For now, though, you shouldn't have any trouble hailing a private driver in Washington state's biggest burg. [Image credits: Jeff Blucher, Flickr]
NY attorney general sues to bar Lyft from the city (update: launch delayed)
Lyft's pink mustaches were all set to prowl New York City's outer boroughs this week, but it seems that the city itself is having none of it: New York's attorney general is pursuing a court order that will block the company from providing transportation services in Queens and Brooklyn. The lawsuit's complaint closely echoes the concerns of the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, which labeled Lyft as "unauthorized" earlier this week for failing to comply with its safety and licensing requirements. It seems to be a matter of distinction -- Lyft labels itself as a peer-to-peer transportation network, but the attorney general says its really a traditional taxi service, and as such, it needs to comply with local laws. Specifically, the AG alleges that Lyft "has simply waltzed into New York and set up shop while defying every law passed whose very purpose is to protect the People of the State of New York," stating that the company puts itself "above the law" by calling its fares "donations."
Lyft launching in New York with a focus on serving outer boroughs
Lyft, the Uber alternative with a penchant for pink mustaches, will launch service in New York City at the end of the week. Initially, the ride-on-demand app will focus on boroughs beyond Manhattan, explaining that "Brooklyn and Queens are vastly underserved by public transit options compared to the rest of New York City." This is good news for many city residents -- not to mention Android Wear users eager to summon a car with their smartwatch -- the downside is that Lyft will only pick up customers in Brooklyn or Queens, at least for the time being. In other words, if you're trying to get back home from Manhattan, the app won't help you out. That said, the service will come in handy for those looking to get around in Brooklyn or Queens, or travel from one borough to the other.
Pennsylvania is the latest state to go after Uber and Lyft
It's no secret that some places, whether it be in the US or other parts of the world, are not in approval of the way ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft operate. And, starting today, we can add Pittsburgh to the list of cities where these app-based car services can't do business legally, at least not for the time being. The news comes after two local judges have granted the Pennsylvania Public Utility's petition to issue cease-and-desist orders to them. As the Pittsburgh Business Times notes, Uber and Lyft won't be free to continue offering their service "until they secure the appropriate authority" from the PUC.
What you need to know about Uber, Lyft and other app-based car services
For the first time last month, I requested a car using a smartphone. The app correctly guessed my location using GPS, gave me a ballpark arrival time with a real-time map and even estimated the fare. A polite driver arrived on time and whisked me to my destination. When I tried to pay and tip, he explained that the payment was already taken (I'd receive a receipt by email soon) and that the service (Uber) forbade tipping. Wait, what? No haggling, luggage fee, credit card refusal, time wasted on receipts or even tipping? This was an epiphany! But professional taxi drivers who pay thousands of dollars for a license are understandably not thrilled about these services. Neither are many cities (and regions) that collect those fees and say that Uber/Lyft/etc. are dangerous or improperly insured. The result of this clash, thus far, is chaos: bans, mass demonstrations and even violence. Despite all that, ridesharing poster child Uber was recently valued at $17 billion. So, will app-driven car services gain traction or be run out of town?
Meet Skylock, the smart bike lock that can save you after a crash
There are plenty of smart bike locks that warn you about thieves, and some will even let you share your bike if you're the generous sort. However, their utility often stops when you start riding -- which is where Velo Labs' new Skylock comes in. The security system compares its own motion sensor data with that of your smartphone to tell if you've been in an accident. If you tumble off and don't respond within a set time frame, Skylock will alert emergency services that you're in trouble.
Lyft's new premium service hauls you around in high-tech style
So you're out on the town with five of your best buddies, and you want a posh ride to the next party without paying a premium for Uber SUV or a limo. Are you stuck? Not after today -- Lyft has unveiled Plus, a high-end service which promises luxuriant ridesharing that won't hit your bank account quite so hard. Choose the new tier and a customized Ford Explorer will show up with room for six and one of the company's better-rated drivers. It's a technology haven on the inside, to boot. You get power outlets to recharge your gadgets, and drivers have Spotify Premium access to handle your song requests.
Uber is reportedly launching a family-friendly ridesharing service
Uber's ridesharing service has primarily catered to an adult crowd that rarely needs to bring more than a suitcase, but it may soon offer a solution for those whose kids have to tag along. VentureBeat hears from a source that the company is near launching Uber Family, a premium option for parents. Reportedly, you'd pay a $10 premium to guarantee both a trustworthy (that is, highly rated) driver and a pre-supplied child's car seat. We've reached out to verify the claims, but you may not have long to wait; Uber Family is supposed to be launching in New York "soon."
Lyft's ridesharing service reaches 24 new cities in a single day
Lyft isn't about to be outdone by its rapidly growing ridesharing competition. The on-demand transportation outfit has just launched service in 24 new US cities, all in one day -- enough to give it more American coverage than its rivals, at 60 cities in total. The expansion mostly covers notable mid-sized urban areas like Jacksonville, Kansas City and Memphis; you can check out the full list below to see if you're covered. The rollout will still leave many Americans hailing taxis, but it's good news for those who want multiple ridesharing choices when they venture beyond the largest population hubs.
Lyft drops ride rates in response to Uber, plans to expand locations
Lyft's taking a tried-and-true approach in an attempt to pirate Uber/Sidecar/other ride-sharing regulars: it's lowering fares everywhere it's available. The company's offering rides for 20 percent less than usual (mirroring Uber's price cuts earlier this year), all thanks to the $250 million funding it secured last week. Apparently, all that money enables the company to forego charging its standard commission rate -- for now, at least -- in an effort to attract new customers. Lyft's not going to spend every cent it got on this particular project, though: it also plans to use the money to expand to more locations in the future. The service with a penchant for fluffy pink mustaches didn't mention how long this promo will last, but anyone interested in a nice discount (and who isn't?) should check the adjusted fares on the company's website. [Image credit: Sergio Ruiz/Flickr]
Uber now insures drivers (and passengers) whenever its ridesharing app is turned on (update)
Surge pricing and conflict over its presence (in some cities) aren't the only issues facing Uber and other ridesharing services these days. Unanswered questions abound about who pays when an UberX driver gets into an accident. Rather than wait for insurance companies to figure things out -- and continue leaving its drivers and customers in a potential coverage no man's land -- Uber's extending its insurance policy to offer contingent coverage when a driver has the Uber app on, but isn't on a trip. Prior to this change, drivers' personal policies were the only insurance available, and it's unclear whether personal insurance will always apply in such instances. So, that's why Uber's now offering coverage up to $100,000 for bodily injuries (at a max $50,000 per person) and up to $25,000 for property damage if an accident happens and the driver's personal policy won't pay out. The coverage the company's offering is certainly better than nothing, but it's far from the $1 million policy that kicks in when drivers are actually on a trip, and provides a lot less than most personal policies, too. That said, it's also important to mention that the move is really a stopgap measure. According to Uber, it wants to help out drivers "while the insurance industry and state governments update policies and regulations for the new world of ridesharing transportation." Makes sense to us, but might we recommend joining the Peer-to-Peer Rideshare Insurance Coalition to help them along? Update: Uber contacted us to let us know that they are already a part of the coalition -- glad they took our advice before we gave it. Oh, and so did Uber competitor Lyft, which contacted us to say that it'll "provide backstop coverage to drivers when they are in match mode and are not providing rides. We will be rolling this out state-by-state in the days to come."
Lyft joins new alliance seeking to clean up ridesharing's insurance mess
Although there's now some legal groundwork in place for ridesharing companies, insurance remains a gray area -- witness the Uber driver who was involved in a fatal accident while off work. How do you cover a car that's both personal transportation and a source of income? We may soon have a clearer picture thanks to the newly created Peer-to-Peer Rideshare Insurance Coalition. The alliance between government, insurance firms and transporters will set guidelines for insuring ridesharing services. Only Lyft and the California Public Utlities Commission have announced their membership so far, but a full roster should be coming later in the week. A first meeting, meanwhile, is due later in February. Not that Lyft is waiting to take action; it's adding coverage beyond drivers' personal insurance while they're on duty.
California regulator sets rules for ridesharing companies
The California Public Utilities Commission approved ridesharing companies early this year, but it offered only a few temporary guidelines while it worked on a formal rule set. Today, the regulator has published those definitive rules. Companies like Lyft, SideCar and Uber now have to get a CPUC license to operate under a new Transportation Network Company category. To maintain that license, they'll have to run background checks, train drivers, hold a minimum level of insurance, inspect cars and drop employees who abuse alcohol or drugs. The requirements won't necessarily eliminate tension with Los Angeles and other cities that believe they have jurisdiction over taxi-like services. However, the CPUC's move gives California ridesharing companies a degree of comfort -- they can keep operating in many cities without fear of being shut down.
NFL Players Association contracts with Uber to curb drunk driving
In a commendable move, the NFL Players Association is contracting with Uber for the 2013-2014 season in an attempt to keep intoxicated athletes from getting behind the wheel. Each player will receive a personalized keychain card that contains $200 credit for the on-demand ridesharing service, which will complement an existing telephone-based service that's offered by the union. Uber currently operates in 17 of the NFL's 31 cities, which isn't ideal, but the service is expanding at a respectable pace. The agreement stands as Uber's biggest deal with major league sports to date, which previously provided a trial service to the San Francisco Giants. Naturally, we'd like to see other players' organizations and teams get on board with similar programs, which could help prevent tragedies such as the one that took the life of a Dallas Cowboys player last year.
Uber Ice Cream returns July 19th, takes on-demand dessert worldwide (video)
Veteran Uber members will remember last year's Uber Ice Cream: for one day only, they could use the company's mobile app to hail an ice cream truck and beat the heat. The program is thankfully coming back on July 19th, and this time on a much larger scale. Customers in 18 US cities and 16 international cities can order group-sized batches of ice cream that should arrive within minutes; the most common US pricing offers five desserts for $25. You'll need to both sign up and download Uber's Android or iOS apps if you want to take part, but those small hassles could lead to some big relief from the summer swelter.
Uber intros fare splitting for cost-conscious ridesharers
Few party-goers look forward to the math involved with paying for a shared cab ride home. Now that Uber supports fare splitting, they won't have to: the company's updated Android and iOS apps let passengers divide the cost equally. While friends must be Uber members to chip in, they only have to give their permission if someone has already hailed a car. The new apps won't necessarily get cheapskate friends to pay up, but they could avoid a few headaches at the end of a long night.
Los Angeles puts ridesharing companies on notice, demands local permits
Someone didn't get the memo, apparently. Despite California's Public Utilities Commission giving ridesharing services the all clear on a statewide level, Los Angeles' Department of Transportation has sent cease-and-desist warnings to Lyft, Sidecar and Uber, claiming that all three are breaking local laws by operating without city permits. Drivers could face arrests and lose their cars if they keep serving customers, according to the notices. Not surprisingly, the ridesharing firms have a very different opinion. Uber tells Engadget that it's operating a limousine-like service which only needs PUC permission to operate, and Lyft says it's talking with the Mayor's office to resolve what it believes is a "state issue." For now, we're at an impasse -- let's just hope that Los Angeles follows in New York's footsteps and tries to reach a happy medium.
Uber vows to roll out service where it has 'tacit approval,' with precautions
If you hadn't gathered, Uber's app-based taxi service isn't always welcome wherever it goes. The company is tired of that fighting just to maintain its business, so it's defining its expansion policies through a new white paper. Deployments will occur in regions where Uber sees "tacit approval" from regulators -- in other words, areas where there hasn't been direct legal action against competing services for at least 30 days. Just in case authorities change their minds, the company plans to go "above and beyond" commercial licensing requirements, including a $2 million insurance policy on trips and more stringent background tests. While Uber would much rather have explicit permission to operate as it sees fit, the strategy could have the firm venturing into territories where competitors with unlicensed drivers have (seemingly) free rein.
