Uber adds in-app chat feature between drivers and riders
Those waiting for a lift will now be able to message their driver from directly within the app.
The Uber app will now let riders and drivers communicate with each other before a pick-up, thanks to a new chat feature built into the app.
Users who request a ride and get a driver will now be able to tap the “contact” and then “chat” option within the app to send a message to their driver.
Uber says this enables them to stay focused on the road.
“Every great ride starts with the pick-up,” Uber’s Jeremy Lermitte wrote in a blog post on the new feature.
“So we’re always thinking about ways to make the pickup experience as frictionless as possible for riders and drivers alike.
“Riders and drivers can contact one another using their apps outside Uber. But these texts can sometimes lack context – is this random number my driver? How do I know if my driver received my SMS message?
“Today, we’re adding a way for riders and drivers to chat right in the Uber app. It’s now easier than ever to get in touch.”
Uber said the new chat feature will begin to roll out to app users globally in the coming weeks, and called it the “first step” towards leveraging real time messaging to help drivers and rider better communicate.
