Uber drivers can be ordered from Facebook Messenger – Le Figaro

Mail service, which has 700 million users, is launching a test phase trips to buy directly in the application.

Facebook on Wednesday announced a partnership with car reservation service Uber driver, which will be integrated into its Messenger messaging application. This alliance is part of tests announced by Facebook to add and transport functionalities to Messenger.

Messenger boasts over 700 million users, but against Asian messaging applications like Line Japanese or Chinese WhatsApp, the application is a little behind in terms of innovations. Facebook has therefore undertaken several months to beef Messenger by integrating other services there.

In the spring, he had such announced the incorporation of a Messenger mobile payments service between friends, and tools to encourage its use by online marketers. This summer, he also began testing a virtual assistant named “M” integrated Messenger, may compete with similar services from Google, Apple (Siri) or Microsoft (Cortana).

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” Today, we are expanding the services available to you with the launch of Travel Messenger. With this new tool, you can book a car ride without the need to download an additional application or leave a conversation, “said a spokesman for Facebook.

Uber is the first partner of Facebook in this regard, as part of a sentence test. In American cities where car reservation service with driver is present, it will be offered to some users of Messenger. Facebook, however, promises that “more countries and more transport partners will be available soon,” the image of Lyft, Uber the direct competitor of the United States. Uber is present in over 300 cities.

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Specifically, just from a conversation in Messenger tap the options menu and select “Transport”, then tap on an icon to order a car. “With the ability to order, track and paid for a trip in Messenger, we make transportation as simple as sending a message,” says Facebook.

Uber is now one most of the actors for “shared savings”, with an estimated valuation of around $ 50 billion. The service creates a lot of controversy on the social protection of its drivers or competition it presents over traditional taxis. It has similar partnerships in Google Maps or Citymapper applications.

(with AFP)