Google launches Uber rival RideWith • Hacker News Board

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#31

Post by dylanjermiah » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:43 PM UTC

ma2rten wrote: post #29

dylanjermiah wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>All they are is an app with some marketing, and anyone with a bit of money can easily come up with a competing app. I think I'll let your first statement stand, but in regards to the second. Uber has raised $5.9bn dollars, is doing ~2m rides per day, is in 300+ cities -- sure you can create a competing app, but the chances of meaningfulness are small if non existent.

in 300+ countries As far as I know, there are only 196 countries in the world.

I apologize, I meant cities. Thank you for letting me know.

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#32

Post by roosterjm2k2 » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:43 PM UTC

minthd wrote: post #30

onion2k wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't have called Uber a "taxi rival" when they were an app for hiring a town car either. Things change. This is Google's first toe-in-the-water for apps to request a ride, but it obviously won't be their last. Considering how much they've invested in autonomous vehicles only a crazy person would believe they're going to leave the entire market for self-driving taxis wide open for Uber etc. Google will have a ta…

But why doesn't Apple doesn't try to create an UBER ?

Because Apple is smarter than that... they will do what they do best...

Let someone work out the kinks, then step in and make it better...

Why waste all the money on all of this regulatory squabbling... let Uber and Lyft do that, give all the free rides, lose money to make this thing legal... then when it's legal, swoop in and take over...

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#33

Post by dataker » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:44 PM UTC

abluecloud wrote: post #2

> Drivers will only be able to make two trips per day, and the software will ensure they only travel from their home neighborhoods to their workplaces. > There also won’t be a ton of money changing hands as a passenger will pay the driver only a nominal fare for the trip I'd hardly call it a Uber rival

With Google's amount of data, 2 trips will 'force' drivers to restrict input to commuting habits and have more insights on it.

Google still holds 5% of Uber.

For commuting, I'd call it Uber's abandonment and Lyft's death.

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#34

Post by salimmadjd » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:45 PM UTC

When google announced Uber integration in their maps, I called it a trojan horse [1] Basically making maps the interface for ride sharing and then adding their own service on top.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7705706

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#35

Post by amelius » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:49 PM UTC

Speaking of unfair competition.

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#36

Post by eli » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:52 PM UTC

minthd wrote: post #30

onion2k wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't have called Uber a "taxi rival" when they were an app for hiring a town car either. Things change. This is Google's first toe-in-the-water for apps to request a ride, but it obviously won't be their last. Considering how much they've invested in autonomous vehicles only a crazy person would believe they're going to leave the entire market for self-driving taxis wide open for Uber etc. Google will have a ta…

But why doesn't Apple doesn't try to create an UBER ?

I don't follow the question. Why doesn't Walmart?

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#37

Post by onion2k » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:53 PM UTC

minthd wrote: post #30

onion2k wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't have called Uber a "taxi rival" when they were an app for hiring a town car either. Things change. This is Google's first toe-in-the-water for apps to request a ride, but it obviously won't be their last. Considering how much they've invested in autonomous vehicles only a crazy person would believe they're going to leave the entire market for self-driving taxis wide open for Uber etc. Google will have a ta…

But why doesn't Apple doesn't try to create an UBER ?

For the same reason they don't make washing machines, or sell apples, or build houses - they believe their money is better spent on other things. Apple think they'll make more money in the long term innovating on consumer electronics.

That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see an Apple car within 5 years of the first autonomous vehicles going on public sale.

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#38

Post by dylanjermiah » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:55 PM UTC

amelius wrote: post #35

Speaking of unfair competition.

How so?

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#39

Post by minthd » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:55 PM UTC

roosterjm2k2 wrote: post #32

minthd wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But why doesn't Apple doesn't try to create an UBER ?

Because Apple is smarter than that... they will do what they do best... Let someone work out the kinks, then step in and make it better... Why waste all the money on all of this regulatory squabbling... let Uber and Lyft do that, give all the free rides, lose money to make this thing legal... then when it's legal, swoop in and take over...

It's not so simple. There are network effects at play(if we're talking about shared trips) - and those are hard to fight against , even for large companies like Google and Apple. This is why i think, Google is entering now - because UBER and Lyft started offering shared rides(which BTW grow rapidly).

Re: Google launches Uber rival RideWith

#40

Post by eli » Mon, Jul 06, 2015, 2:56 PM UTC

salimmadjd wrote: post #34

When google announced Uber integration in their maps, I called it a trojan horse [1] Basically making maps the interface for ride sharing and then adding their own service on top. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7705706

I'd assumed that integration was more about learning Uber's fleet size at different times, how long people are willing to wait for a car, what locations they request from, etc.