Uber, the ride sharing app has become more of a cultural phenomenon. For those who don’t know it acts as a taxi service for the passengers and a referral service for the drivers. It also enables people (who aren’t licensed taxi drivers in US) to obtain a side income by ferrying around passengers who are looking for a ride. With over millions of people hailing this service, it’s obligatory to be in the know. Here are a 15 facts you didn’t know about Uber.
Spread worldwide – Uber is omnipresent
You can request a ride in over 70 countries and over 416 cities all over the world, that’s the available Uber service area. For a company, not even seven years old not too shabby! 😉
In India, it has penetrated to 22 cities.
Kickass Idea by yet another college dropout
Uber was founded in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp. Travis dropped out from University of California. It was Travis’ third venture after his first one went bankrupt and second one he sold and Camp’s second venture.
It’s big? Yes, Period. How big?
It’s estimated worth sums up to a gigantic $ 62.5 billion, receiving funds from venture capitalists, seed funding and big companies like Google Ventures, Baidu, etc.
Three employee policy
Abiding by this three employee policy Uber hires only three employees in each city. These employees are the executive handlers of all operations from partnering with drivers and managing them as well as serving clients within the city designated to them. The drivers can only voice out their concerns to this three member team.
Uber rates you!
It’s not a typo it does rate its customers. A customer rating any service is a religiously followed routine which is no different in Uber too. However, it rates you it’s customers via the help of their drivers!
The No Cash Policy bent for India
It had a no cash policy customers could only pay the money via cards for their rides. However, with only 10-15% of the population being credit card owners Uber broke its tradition of accepting only cards.
It’s not just a car service
It provides you with not more than just the car-service.
- UberRush – Uber drivers can also deliver household items, medicines, grocery, etc. However, this could mean turning drivers into drug mules. To avoid this Uber has a list of prohibited items and drivers must abide by the given list.
- UberJEK – It’s a motorbike taxi service.
- UberPool – Car pooling or sharing, economical for the passengers.
- UberEATS – Food delivery service by Uber
- UberChopper – this is a helicopter service!
It wants to create a difference
It aims having one million female drivers by 2020 breaking the stereotype of women being bad drivers. It also included accommodations for drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
If rating falls below 4.6 the driver may get fired
Maintaining ratings and protecting themselves from the caprice of the passenger is difficult. Uber drivers can have their account deactivated if their rating falls below 4.6.
It is only a middleman
It doesn’t own any cars. It’s a service which bridges the gap between people who need a car service and the cars that are available at that place at that time.
Uber drivers are asserted as partners. What’s the motive behind this?
It claims that its drivers are like partners. In the spirit of entrepreneurship they work as independent contractors. However this indirectly means they aren’t entitled to any normal worker’s rights. They don’t have any rights to holiday pay or any notice before being dismissed.
Uber provides an iPhone to each driver
According to a policy of Uber, the company gives an iPhone to all its drivers. However, the iPhone is locked and it can’t be used for calling or other purposes other than the purpose of tracking down the passenger’s location after a ride has been requested.
No limit to the amount of drivers
There is no predefined limit to the number of drivers who can be registered as Uber drivers. It already has more than 1 million drivers and the number is still increasing steeply.
Uber accusations
Uber and controversy go hand in hand. Many protests and lawsuits have been filed by taxi drivers, taxi companies and also governments of many countries for unfair business practices. Recently surge pricing was restrained by Karnataka Road Transport Office yet, it has not stopped increasing their price in unusual manner.
Future Plans
It gives R&D great significance. It’s aiming at a future with driverless cars. So be prepared for cars driven by robots, which will make the fare cheaper.
