Uber is attempting to up the stakes in the ultra-competitive car-sharing scene, having struck a deal with music-streaming service Spotify to allow customers to play their music through the car’s stereo.
As part of the deal, users with a premium Spotify account will be able to select the songs they want to hear on their trip by selecting them through the Uber app that will then begin playing on the car’s speaker system.
While an interesting choice for passengers using the app, one can’t help but wonder what the driver’s opinion will be if their fare happens to want to play music that would be politely called an ‘audible affront’ to music, but seemingly they have little choice in the matter.
Speaking at a press conference, Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick said of the deal, “For Uber it’s the first time we’ve personalised the experience inside the car, and for music lovers, that’s nirvana. Obviously as with most of our features, they kick off on Friday nights. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, as well.”
This is not the first time Uber has partnered with a third-party company. In recent months, Uber agreed to a deal with Google, allowing users to book an Uber cab through the Google Maps app and to also calculate an estimated fare between two points on a map.
The service is due to roll out on 21 November in 10 cities. Ireland is not included in the initial locations but a global rollout is expected in the coming weeks.
