Uber Takes Inspiration From Its Indian Rival, Plans To Introduce an Infotainment System in Its Cars In the Country (ndtv.com) 20
Reader manishs writes: Uber is taking a page out of Ola's playbook as it pushes to expand business in India, its largest overseas market. Months after its Indian rival introduced its 'connected platform' called Ola Play, Uber is set to launch its own infotainment system across several of its cab tiers in the country, people familiar with the matter have told Gadgets 360. The company began testing its infotainment system -- an Android tablet that comes loaded with a range of services -- in select cities in the country earlier this year. The ride-hailing service now plans to install the tablet on several of its premium cabs including its Uber X fleet, and make it available for passengers in select circles later this year, people said. Uber has been inviting select drivers in New Delhi and other cities to install an HD screen-enabled tablet, according to a source and two drivers who spoke on the condition of anonymity. This is the first time Uber is planning to bring an actual tablet to its cabs in any of the markets where it operates. The company currently offers Uber Trip Experiences in select markets where it lets passengers consume a range of services using their own phone.
Will drivers be forced to pay for it + data costs? (Score:2)
Will drivers be forced to pay for it + data costs?
I don't know the labor laws over there but does this push them towards being India W2 workers vs 1099 workers?
I guess you solved all your other problems, Uber! (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Has Uber even made any money?
Re: (Score:2)
When America does it, it's fine (Score:3, Insightful)
then it's called "taking a page out of someone's book", but when another country does it, it's called "IP theft", "patent infringement" and "copyright violation", and court orders and warrants for extradition come flying in worst case.
Re: (Score:2)
and in china they just have an 3rd shift where the knockoffs come from.
Heinlein predicts it again (Score:4, Insightful)
From Robert Heinlein's "Podkayne of Mars", published in 1962. Read all the way to the end.
'Venusberg assaults the eye and ear even from inside a taxi... full color and stereo ads climb right inside your taxi and sit in your lap and shout in your ear.
Don't ask me how this horrid illusion is produced. The engineer who invented it probably flew off on his own broom. This red devil about a meter high appeared between us and the partition separating us from the driver... and started jabbing at us with a pitchfork. "Get the Hi-Ho Habbit!", it shrieked. "Everyone drinks Hi-Ho! Soothing, Habit-Forming. Dee-lishus! Get High with Hi-Ho!"
I shrank back against the cushions.
Girdie phoned the driver. "Please shut that thing off."
It faded down to just a pink ghost and the commercial dropped to a whisper while the driver answered, "Can't madam. They rent the concession." Devil and noise came back on full blast.
And I learned something about tipping. Girdie took money from her purse, displayed one note. Nothing happened and she added a second; noise and image faded down again. She passed them through a slot to the driver and we weren't bothered any more. Oh, the transparent ghost of the red devil remained and a nagging whisper of his voice, until both were replaced by another ad just as faint -- but we could talk. The giant ads in the street outside were noisier and more dazzling; I didn't see how the driver could see or hear to drive, especially as traffic was unbelievably thick and heart-stoppingly fast and frantic, and he kept cutting in and out of lanes and up and down levels as if he were trying to beat Death to a hospital.
By the time we slammed to a stop on the roof of Dom Pedro Casino I figure Death wasn't more than half a lap behind.
I learned later why they drive like that. The hackie is an employee of the Corporation, like most everybody -- but he is an "enterprise-employee," not on wages. Each day he has to take in a certain amount in fares to "make his nut" -- the Corporation gets all of this. After he has rolled up that fixed number of paid kilometers, he splits the take with the Corporation on all other fares the rest of the day. So he drives like mad to pay off the nut as fast as possible and start making some money himself -- then keeps on driving fast because he's got to get his while the getting is good."
Re: (Score:2)
renting sucks,
Here it comes.... (Score:2)
...Legions of dudes rubbing one out to Pornhub on their way to work every morning in their self driving cars.
Re: (Score:2)
If you do it in your car on the way to work... how are you going to... um... dispose of your "essence"? Chuck it out the window? Hope they have some way to wash your hands before going in the office.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
if they try it in CA then the courts would force them to