Now you can hail an Uber by calling a quantity

Uber’s making it simpler to hail a experience — no app required.

The corporate introduced Wednesday at its annual Go-GET occasion in New York Metropolis that it’s launching a brand new ride-hailing choice for individuals who aren’t as acquainted navigating a smartphone. By dialing the toll-free quantity 1-833-USE-UBER (1-833-873-8237) within the U.S., prospects can communicate with an agent in English or Spanish to request a experience on-demand or reserve one for a future journey.

Uber has piloted ride-hailing by way of cellphone earlier than. It launched this system in choose areas round December 2020, particularly Arizona and Florida. However the firm briefly paused the service through the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the characteristic is again and extra broadly accessible. 

When calling, individuals who have an current Uber account can inform the agent and use an current cost technique on file. In the event that they don’t have an account, they will pay with a bank card by cellphone and the agent can create an account for them.

Right here’s the way it works:

• Prospects name Uber from a cellphone to speak to a crew member.

• As soon as the experience has been confirmed, Uber sends info by way of textual content message in regards to the experience, together with the driving force’s title and film, license plate quantity and their estimated time of arrival.

• Lastly, the shopper receives one other textual content message when the driving force arrives at their pickup location.

• What about suggestions? Reserving an Uber by way of cellphone doesn’t present a approach to try this — certainly to the chagrin of drivers. However Uber factors out that riders may give money suggestions in the event that they select to take action.

“Offering prospects with extra methods to make use of Uber stays high precedence and we’re excited to nationally develop this up to date providing,” a spokesperson instructed TechCrunch by way of electronic mail.