Uber launches new rider app

Ridesharing app Uber announced the launch of its new rider app yesterday, rebuilt completely from the ground up for the first time, since the last redesign in 2012. 

Keeping in mind the changing needs of riders around the world, the re-engineered app aims to recapture the clean and simple aesthetic of the original Uber experience without sacrificing the choice the riders now expect for a faster, smarter and more personalised rider app. 

“We designed the new Uber app around you and our core beliefs: that time is a luxury and that the information you need should always be at your fingertips. Gone are the days when everyone’s app looks the same. The new Uber experience is re-imagined around a simple question: “Where to?” After all, you use Uber to get somewhere or to someone. By starting with your destination, we can tailor the journey to you,” said Uber Senior Product Manager Yuhki Yamashita in a blog post.

The new app is being rolled out globally on iOS and Android over the next several weeks. The new Uber app learns from riders’ routines, so frequent riders will see shortcuts that predict where they could be headed. This means riders can get moving with just one tap.

Soon, riders will also be able to connect their calendar with Uber. Once connected, the rider’s meetings and appointments will automatically appear as shortcuts, saving them the hassle of digging through another app to find the right address.

Uber knows that people use the app to meet friends, whether it’s at a concert or a night out. This means the rider’s destination is often a person. But figuring out exactly where they are involves a lot of texting back and forth. Uber will soon be introducing a new feature we refer to as people are the new places that enables riders to set their destination to a person instead of a place. Riders just need to sync their contacts with the app, type their name into the search bar and once they’ve shared their location, the rider can get moving.

After entering the destination in ‘where to’, the rider can decide how to get there. We know riders prefer different types of rides for different moments. If the rider is on the way to a party or with business associates, a more spacious uberX ride is preferred, while an uberGO serves as the most affordable everyday ride. It’s now much easier to compare the cost of all these options with upfront fares, so the rider can make an informed choice.

Once the rider is on trip, the focus is on helping them make the most of their ride. They can still split the fare, keep track of estimated time to destination and share trip status with friends.

Soon, Uber will offer more experiences tailored around rider destinations that will include trip integration with other utility-based mobile applications, social media platforms, news aggregators and more.