Facebook has announced Uber integration within its standalone Messenger app.
Initially available in Uber-friendly cities in the United States, users will be able to tap an address within a chat and order a ride without leaving Messenger.
It’s also possible to tap the new transport icon within the Messenger app to launch a mini version of the Uber app.
Users will be able to select from UberX, UberXL, etc., select payment options and enter pick-up and destination addresses.
Payment can also be handled via Messenger and it’s not even necessary to download the Uber app.
After the ride is booked, folks will receive updates on the driver’s status and will even be able to notify friends that they’ve ordered a ride.
In a post on the Facebook blog the company wrote: “Today, we’re expanding the services available to you with our launch of transportation on Messenger. With this new feature, you can request a ride from a car service without ever needing to download an extra app or leave a conversation. It’s super easy and doesn’t take you away from the plans that you’re making with your friends or family.
“Whether you’re meeting friends for lunch, on your way to a concert, or running late for work, Messenger and our partners can get you to your destination faster.”
See also: Facebook Messenger is now a platform
If folks don’t already have an Uber account they can set one up within Facebook and all of the updates and receipts will be delivered to a private conversation between them and Uber.
The Uber partnership is the first Facebook has announced since revealing Messenger would become a platform during the F8 conference earlier this year.
Apologies for the overload on Facebook new stories this evening, but that’s three newsworthy announcements in as many hours!
They must be clearing the decks before the Christmas party.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
