It calls itself a technology company that is solving how people move about in cities. Others call it a myriad of things ranging from a private taxi fleet to an on-demand ride service to a cab service for the well heeled. However you might define it, Uber is making waves in cities around the world for its innovative spin on the cars for hire business. It is present in more than 45 cities in 19 countries with new cities being added almost on a weekly basis. And today Uber is launching its services in Delhi.
Bangalore was the first Indian city where Uber launched its services six weeks ago in what the company called a “secret testing mode” to get the pricing right. “Bangalore was the obvious choice for us as it is considered to be India’s Silicon Valley,” Uber’s Neeraj Singhal tells me while sharing his business card with the designation “International Launcher” printed under his name. He essentially lives out of a suitcase and hops from one city to another launching the service.
It is difficult to describe Uber, which was founded in 2010 in San Francisco. From the outside and how most users will eventually use the service, it is a high-end cab service, where users can summon a cab instantly from an app on their phones. But the experience is nothing like a regular cab service. There is no need to dial any number, wait for an executive to receive your call who would or would not provide you with an ETA. You don’t have to book it hours in advance, either. The app would give you details of the nearest cab and an estimated ETA.
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