It seems Facebook is trying to create an all-in-one app out of their Messenger app. From its initial nature of only connecting Facebook friends in a more dedicated platform, the Messenger app is turning into a digital Swiss-army knife.
Facebook Messenger is partnering with Uber to create a function that allows Facebook users to hail a cab directly from the Messenger app. In terms of financing, Uber is the largest driver-hailing app in the world.
The service is still under the works. Uber is the first company to partner with Facebook's Messenger and they are looking forward to releasing the service to its 700 million users soon. In the meantime, the taxi-hailing feature of the Messenger app has been released to a few areas where Uber is used widely, particularly in the US.
The partnership was announced by both parties in their individual blogs.
"With the ability to request, view, and pay for an Uber ride in Messenger, taking your next ride is as simple as sending a message," Uber disclosed in their official blog.
"You can request a ride from a car service without ever needing to download an extra app or leave a conversation," Facebook posted.
This move by Facebook's messenger apps is following the footsteps of Asian messaging apps like China's WeChat, Japan's Line and South Korea's KakaoTalk. Chinese-made messenger WeChat allows the user to call Chinese taxi-hailing service Didi Dache to book a taxi ride.
According to TechAsia, Didi Dache receives an average of 700,00 booking per day via WeChat. This app covers China alone. With the global market of Facebook Messenger, the possibilities are limitless.
In the next years to come, it will not be a surprise if Facebook successfully monopolize all major necessities within one app and Uber is smart enough to be first in what seems to be a promising financial bandwagon.
