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Uber Opens Its API

techcrunch.com

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Re: Uber Opens Its API

#2

Post by chaghalibaghali »

This could potentially be great news - I've been working on an Uber client app for Firefox OS [1] using the reverse-engineering done by the Uber CLI project [2].

It's pretty a pretty basic implementation at the moment (you can currently book a ride based on an address, and not much else), but allowed me to move to FirefoxOS for my primary phone - Uber being the last 'must-have' app for me that didn't have a webapp version.

Having something official to work with (assuming they don't go down the Twitter route of not allowing anything that replicates the functionality of the main Uber app) would help a lot.

[1] https://github.com/thomshutt/FFUber

[2] https://github.com/tals/uber.py

Re: Uber Opens Its API

#3

Post by smackfu »

My preference is for apps to just have a directions link, and then the various providers can plug into the central OS maps.

The odd thing is that Uber isn't integrated into the iOS Maps app as a transit provider. So you can't actually use it in that fashion.

Re: Uber Opens Its API

#4

Post by skram »

chaghalibaghali wrote: post #2

This could potentially be great news - I've been working on an Uber client app for Firefox OS [1] using the reverse-engineering done by the Uber CLI project [2]. It's pretty a pretty basic implementation at the moment (you can currently book a ride based on an address, and not much else), but allowed me to move to FirefoxOS for my primary phone - Uber being the last 'must-have' app for me that didn't have a webapp ve…

Unfortunately, the ability to truly replicate the Uber apps is unavailable in the completely open API in that you cannot order rides.

Re: Uber Opens Its API

#6

Post by chaghalibaghali »

skram wrote: post #4
chaghalibaghali wrote: post #2

This could potentially be great news - I've been working on an Uber client app for Firefox OS [1] using the reverse-engineering done by the Uber CLI project [2]. It's pretty a pretty basic implementation at the moment (you can currently book a ride based on an address, and not much else), but allowed me to move to FirefoxOS for my primary phone - Uber being the last 'must-have' app for me that didn't have a webapp ve…

Unfortunately, the ability to truly replicate the Uber apps is unavailable in the completely open API in that you cannot order rides.

Ah, looks like I'll be sticking with my current approach for now then.

Re: Uber Opens Its API

#9

Post by dansky »

vishalzone2002 wrote: post #5

uber moves pretty fast. I think their speed of innovation is commendable. But 17 billion USD evaluation still seem unjustified to me.

They are shooting to become "too big to fail". Now the play with bankers, media and politics show that direction. There is surely no other way to change the law in their favor in the U.S., may not be so easy elsewhere.

For that the valuation seems right and may even have to rise. It's all on paper. Think of Uber as a global taxi and delivery-service - basically aiming to become a new monopoly or the strongest player there. Taxi is very fragmented with money going to lots of pockets. Uber is one pocket.

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