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Google To Take On Uber With New Ride-Share Service (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the game-on dept.

Finally, a major company is planning to compete with Uber in the ride-sharing service space. The Wall Street Journal reports today that Google is planning to debut its own ride-hailing service in San Francisco at "far cheaper rates." (Editor's note: the link could be paywalled, here's an alternate source.) The Mountain View-based company began a pilot program around its California headquarters in May, and enabled several thousand area workers at specific firms to use the Waze navigation app to connect with fellow commuters. Expect Google's service in the coming weeks, says the report. One key difference in Google's approach is that it aims to connect riders with drivers who are already headed in the same direction. The project is in compliance with Waze's aims to "make fares low enough to discourage drivers from operating as taxi drivers." From the report: Still, Google's push into ride-sharing could portend a clash with Uber, a seven-year-old firm valued at roughly $68 billion that largely invented the concept of summoning a car with a smartphone app. Google and Uber were once allies -- Google invested $258 million in Uber in 2013 -- but increasingly see each other as rivals. Alphabet executive David Drummond said Monday that he resigned from Uber's board because of the increasing competition between the companies. Uber, which has long used Google's mapping software for its ride-hailing service, recently began developing its own maps.Game on, Uber.

5 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Finally! by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Finally, a major company is planning to compete with Uber in the ride-sharing service space.

    I guess Lyft doesn't count?

    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    1. Re:Finally! by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      I've not tried Lyft yet, I'm assuming they're on par with Uber price wise?

      I use Lyft and avoid Uber. The prices are about the same, and the responsiveness is about the same. Even many of the drivers are the same, since many drivers do both. I use Lyft for two reasons: 1. They treat their drivers better, not necessarily with more money, but at least with more respect. 2. By using the smaller company I am helping to keep the market competitive.

  2. Hopefully they'll call it by eth1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Goober :P

  3. So, really seems to be "ride-sharing" by jratcliffe · · Score: 3, Insightful

    From the sounds of this, they seem to be focused on true "ride-sharing," in which people going in the same direction contribute to the cost of the trip, rather than Uber's taxi-like product. In effect, carpooling.

  4. How to make it cheaper? by rgbscan · · Score: 2

    Being that Uber is already a minimum wage job outside of the weekend bar hours (Fri and Sat 5pm-3am averages $22 hr gross in the MSP metro and is the only time you can actually make decent money), I don't know what they have up their sleeve to make it even cheaper.