Facebook Lets You Hail Uber From Messenger

It looks like Facebook’s Messenger has taken a step up from its normal service of letting you send instant messages and photos to your family or friends, as it will end up being a multi-purpose platform for its 700 million plus users. This is made possible after arriving at an agreement with Uber, where folks living in the US will soon be able to hail a ride from the Messenger smartphone app itself. No doubt this is one major leap for both companies, and it should be able to see both parties benefit from it.

David Marcus, vice president for messaging products at Facebook, shared, “A lot of the plans that you are making with friends and family are happening through Messenger. When people come together, there is always a need to request transportation. It’s actually bringing a lot of utility to the platform.”

Assuming this partnership with Uber takes off in a big way, do expect Facebook to throw in additional ride-hailing companies down the road. It would certainly be an experiment that is worth following, and it ties in with Facebook’s efforts to transform Messenger so that it can be a whole lot more than a regular communications app. Surely this is more useful than adding a lightsaber to your Facebook profile pic?

Edwin Kee
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: Facebook, Uber