Spotify and Uber Partnering for User-Generated Playlists During Car Trips

[MacRumors]

Following early rumors last week that the popular car-hailing service Uber would be partnering with music streaming giant Spotify, the companies today confirmed the upcoming launch of integration between the two services.

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek today confirmed that the two app-based services will be partnering to allow Uber customers to prepare a specifically selected queue of songs while waiting on an Uber car. When the car picks its passengers up, the selected song will already be playing. Users will have to connect their Spotify Premium accounts with the car service inside the Uber app, but once that is done the app will allow them to not only pick their music beforehand, but adjust and control it for the duration of the trip.

The partnership is set to launch on November 21 in London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Stockholm, Toronto and Sydney. A widespread rollout to more locations is expected to follow shortly thereafter.

The Uber driver will also have to connect their phone to the car's stereo for the service to function, but Uber says widespread adoption of the new collaboration is eagerly accepted by its employees. But until it's universally installed in every Uber car, the option to select music for your trip won't show up in the Uber app if your area doesn't have the service yet.

A new report from TechCrunch also claims that Spotify soon plans to announce yet another collaboration, this time with BMW's ConnectedDrive platform. After making deals with companies like Ford and Volvo, it would be Spotify's third major car company integration announcement. Following an update just last month, the service now also supports Apple CarPlay.

Spotify's app code also hints additional service expansions in the works, with TechCrunch pointing to podcasts and an undetermined feature codenamed "Magic"

Both Uber [Direct Link] and Spotify [Direct Link] can be downloaded from the App Store for free.

Article Link: Spotify and Uber Partnering for User-Generated Playlists During Car Trips

 

[taptic]

Would be annoying for Uber drivers when their customers hop in the car and it starts playing obnoxious music...

 

[TsunamiTheClown]

Isn't this what headphones are for? db

 

[nick42983]

A friend paid $30 to go about 1 mile in an SUV last year. What exactly is the point of Uber other than burning cash to travel in a nicer car?

Edit: I took a closer look and it seems that US taxi regulations are the culprit driving this. I live in Poland now and it's easy to get a taxi within 5-10 minutes, by calling or using an app called iTaxi. It doesn't look like you can pay by CC, but thats not a big deal to me, I prefer to use cash. All taxis have their prices posted on the side of the taxi (usually $0.80/km) and there is a standard starting fare on top of this (about $2.50).

The main thing I don't like about Uber (besides the high price) is that the drivers aren't professionals. Several didn't even speak English well, and all were glued to their GPS with absolutely no knowledge of the area and roads.

 

[Robstevo]

A friend paid $30 to go about 1 mile in an SUV last year. What exactly is the point of Uber other than burning cash to travel in a nicer car?

Edit: I took a closer look and it seems that US taxi regulations are the culprit driving this. I live in Poland now and it's easy to get a taxi within 5-10 minutes, by calling or using an app called iTaxi. It doesn't look like you can pay by CC, but thats not a big deal to me, I prefer to use cash. All taxis have their prices posted on the side of the taxi (usually $0.80/km) and there is a standard starting fare on top of this (about $2.50).

The main thing I don't like about Uber (besides the high price) is that the drivers aren't professionals. Several didn't even speak English well, and all were glued to their GPS with absolutely no knowledge of the area and roads.

The taxi industry in every country in the first world is a shambles to be honest , I spent 30 au dollars today for a 20 minute drive. God knows the amount of profit they make. Prices needed to be more regulated , and the amount of unpro ones you get ( talking on the ear phones etc and being rude) is also ridiculous.

Over here you get a automatic payment of 2:30 before you even say where you are going , why?

 

[coffeemadmanUK]

The taxi industry in every country in the first world is a shambles to be honest , I spent 30 au dollars today for a 20 minute drive. God knows the amount of profit they make. Prices needed to be more regulated , and the amount of unpro ones you get ( talking on the ear phones etc and being rude) is also ridiculous.

Over here you get a automatic payment of 2:30 before you even say where you are going , why?

Same in the UK. Generally they aren't terrible with minicabs (in my home county in the northern part of England you can get a taxi ride of two miles or so for £2.50 ($3.91).

The rules for London?

________________________________________________________________
Tariff 1

For any hiring during Monday to Friday between 06:00 and 20:00, other than on a public holiday:

For the first 252.4 metres or 54.2 seconds (whichever is reached first) there is a minimum charge of £2.40

For each additional 126.2 metres or 27.1 seconds (whichever is reached first), or part thereof, if the fare is less than £17.40 then there is a charge of 20p

Once the fare is £17.40 or greater then there is a charge of 20p for each additional 88.5 metres or 19 seconds (whichever is reached first), or part thereof

Tariff 2

For any hiring either during Monday to Friday between 20:00 and 22:00 or during Saturday or Sunday between 06:00 and 22:00, other than on a public holiday:

For the first 205 metres or 44 seconds (whichever is reached first) there is a minimum charge of £2.40

For each additional 102.5 metres or 22 seconds (whichever is reached first), or part thereof, if the fare is less than £21 there is a charge of 20p

Once the fare is £21 or greater then there is a charge of 20p for each additional 88.5 metres or 19 seconds (whichever is reached first), or part thereof

Tariff 3

For any hiring between 22:00 on any day and 06:00 the following day or at any time on a public holiday:

For the first 165.4 metres or 35.6 seconds (whichever is reached first) there is a minimum charge of £2.40

For each additional 82.7 metres or 17.8 seconds (whichever is reached first), or part thereof, if the fare is less than £25.40 there is a charge of 20p

Once the fare is £25.40 or greater then there is a charge of 20p for each additional 88.5 metres or 19 seconds (whichever is reached first)

Changeover fare

The rate at which fares increase goes up once a taxi journey goes over six miles. This is known as changeover fare.

For tariff 1, this fare is £17.40. For tariff 2, it is £21 and for tariff 3, it is £25.40

________________________________________________________________

And there is shock that cabs are used less and less?

 

[Swytch]

A friend paid $30 to go about 1 mile in an SUV last year. What exactly is the point of Uber other than burning cash to travel in a nicer car?

Edit: I took a closer look and it seems that US taxi regulations are the culprit driving this. I live in Poland now and it's easy to get a taxi within 5-10 minutes, by calling or using an app called iTaxi. It doesn't look like you can pay by CC, but thats not a big deal to me, I prefer to use cash. All taxis have their prices posted on the side of the taxi (usually $0.80/km) and there is a standard starting fare on top of this (about $2.50).

The main thing I don't like about Uber (besides the high price) is that the drivers aren't professionals. Several didn't even speak English well, and all were glued to their GPS with absolutely no knowledge of the area and roads.

Funny, at least where I live, its the opposite, everything you say about Uber is true for the Taxis. I drive Uber and everyone tells me they prefer Uber for its lower price, quicker pick ups, friendlier and more professional drivers with better knowledge of the road that speak English.

I have heard the SUV (UberXL or Uber Black) prices are high, but customers get a quote before requesting the ride - either he had a large group of people and needed a bigger car (which warrants the extra charge if it saved requesting 2 rides), or why would you pay for an SUV to go 1 mile?

 

[ipedro]

This is awesome and works as advertised. Spotify is the music streaming company Apple should've bought.