 |
| By Makeusesof |
Facebook
Messenger users who want to summon an Uber driver without leaving the comfort
of their app will now be able to, thanks to Uber's crusade to integrate with
every app in existence.
The
newest version of Messenger has been updated to include an Uber button, so
users can hail a ride and track their drivers progress from within Facebook's
app. Users can also pay for the ride and communicate with their driver, all
within Messenger. The integration is powered by Uber's API, which the company
is making available to app developers worldwide through its Strategic
Partnerships initiative.
The road to ubiquity is
paved with API integration
Uber
is listed under the "transportation" category in Messenger, which can
be selected through the "more" menu in a Messenger conversation. Even
users who have never used Uber before can sign up without leaving Messenger;
Uber says it will pick up the tab for those users' first ride, up to $20.
Earlier
this month, Uber simplified the process for app developers to add an
"intent to ride" button to their products. It's an intriguing
strategy, both in terms of growing the company's customer base as well as expanding
its branding opportunities. (Some products, like Google Maps, have included
Uber integration for some time.)
It's
also interesting that Facebook is enabling Uber's integration strategy, given
that Facebook is the leading contender in the race to place its brand inside
other apps. Just as Facebook wants to be your front door to the internet, Uber
wants to be your de facto transportation method and the lines that divide the
apps on your smartphone are getting blurrier and blurrier.
No comments:
Post a Comment