10 Reasons Why You Should Use Uber

1. App based technology

Uber’s app based technology is quick, easy and so simple to use. You can rest assured in the fact that you know you can always get a car whenever or wherever you are.

2. You know your driver

Uber’s technology allows you to see your driver's name, image, the vehicle that he drives as well as the vehicle registration. Riders will always know who they are getting into a car with.

3. Driver vetting process

Uber partner-drivers are registered to drive on the Uber platform. All driver partners have a professional driver’s permit (PrDPs), roadworthy certificate and commercial and passenger liability insurance. Driver-partners then go through a secondary criminal background check, by a third party supplier that leads the industry. You are assured you are being connected to one of the safest drivers on the road.

4. You are never alone with Uber

Did you know that you can share your estimated time of arrival (ETA) with family and friends? Your loved ones can track your route when you are in an Uber, this way they will always know where you are.

5. Cashless System

There is no need to stress about finding the correct amount of  cash, just register your credit or cheque card on the app for seamless billing. Upon completion of your trip a receipt is sent directly to your email inbox. Questions or queries? Drop customer support an email and a real live person will be able to answer them.

6. Affordability

One of the things that make Uber so popular is that it is so affordable, which makes getting around easier. There are no hidden costs and you always know what you will be charged, by requesting a fare estimate on the app before you take that ride. You can also fare split with friends in the car with you - making your ride that much more affordable.

7. No more drinking and driving

Now here’s another thing that adds to the popularity of Uber - knowing you never have to drink and drive again! Uber is a reliable and safe option after a night out and you can rest assured that you will get home safely. A recent study, in Seattle, shows DUI incidents have dropped 10% since Uber launching.  

8. Friendly and professional drivers

Uber is most definitely your own private driver. When last did you have someone open a car door for you? Well Uber drivers know just how to make their clients feel special and comfortable, they even providing water and mints. Plus you can rate your driver at the end of every trip - the better the driver the better the rating.

9. Roadworthy and safe vehicles

Uber drivers take pride in their vehicles and ensure that their cars are always clean and safe. All vehicles have roadworthy certificates and drivers have to show proof of  insurance before they are allowed to drive on the Uber platform.

10. Uber is in 300+ cities and growing

Travelling to London, Kenya, Chicago or China? Uber has a presence in 300+ cities around the world and you can be sure that you will receive the same service and the same level of professionalism in any of these 300 cities.

Follow updates from Uber on Twitter @Uber_RSA and like Uber’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/UberRSA.

Win An UberChopper Ride To The Durban July

Want to arrive in style at the 2015 Vodacom Durban July on Saturday?

You and Two friends have the chance to do so with uberCHOPPER

The winner and their friends will be transported in a luxurious Uber to a helipad in Durban where they will be flown in an uberCHOPPER to the Greyville race track.

The prize also includes entrance into the Jack Daniel's Boomtown Marquee and transport home after a VIP day at the races.

How to win:

• Open your Uber app at 8:30am on Saturday 4th July and you will see an uberCHOPPER icon called uberDBNJULY 
• Toggle over to the uberCHOPPER option
• Set your pick-up location and tap the DBNJULY button to request this unbelievable experience
• If you are the fastest an uber will arrive to whisk you and 3 friends away to the helipad so you can arrive in style

To arrive in style all you need to do is download the free app for Android, iPhone, Blackberry 7, Windows Phone or register for Uber at www.uber.com/go 

Facebook: UberRSA

Twitter: @Uber_RSA 

The highlights from #TechEdZA 2013 Part 2 and an Infographic

This is the second part of our article on the Microsoft Conference TechEdZA 2013 held recently
in Durban at the ICC.



One of the nice things to see was how they had quite a bit of social media activity
for this event including this Twitter Wall where you could see the latest Tweets
about the conference.



I sat in on two sessions all about building apps and selling them.

The panelists shared these tips with the delegates:

• There are many ways to sell your app
• Pay per download
• In app advertising
• In app purchasing
• Freemium apps
• Trial purchase apps
• They encouraged developers to keep their apps alive
• Keep building new versions or upgrades
• You have to make that app addictive
• We heard of one company that makes $1 million dollars a day through in app adverts
• Your aim is to get new users for your app
• Send this site info on your app - http://www.wpcentral.com/ 
• Try and use social chat within your app
• Ask yourself  'what is this app going to do?' 
• Keep it simple.
• If you have a bug in your app fix it
• Make that app look sexy

At another session we heard about the latest windows products and devices:

• Microsoft will end support for Windows XP on 8 April 2014.  
• The latest devices can now boot up to usable desktop in under 8 seconds.

Below is a handy infographic of some of the interesting stats from #TechEdZA 2013

All in all it was a wonderful conference and much was learned.



At the closing keynote we saw just how quickly idea's can turn into reality.
At the beginning of the conference idea's were asked for, for apps and at
the end of the conference these idea's were ready in the form of apps.

A great example of the talent we have in South Africa and Africa.

Article and Pictures by Fred Felton (@fredfelton)


Related articles

• The Highlights from #TechEdZA 2013 Part 1

The Highlights from #TechEdZA 2013 Part 1

Last week I was invited to TechEdZA the Microsoft Conference held in Durban at the ICC.

Covering all things tech from laptops to mobile phones to dev to apps and all things in between.



With over 2000 people reported to be in attendance this was indeed a massive conference.

I started off attending the session with @SimonStewart  and what an interesting session it was.
He gave us some wonderful tips:

• He encouraged people at the conference to meet other people.  
• Get out there and introduce yourself and chat to others.
• He encouraged companies to have in-house suggestion systems.
• How much time in a day can you spend on being productive?  
• He recommended you send weekly progress emails to clients.
• By the way he also gave away lots of swag including Planning Poker Cards.

Next we heard from Gary Hope and Laura Kotlinksi about Data Warehouses.

These were the highlights:

• Business is moving online
• Social Media is teaching people to collaborate and learn online
• Look out for Zettabytes.  Already the NSA is reportedly getting a data warehouse that will accommodate 4 Zettabytes of Data.  By the way, that's a lot of data
• 1 Zettabyte = 1000 Petabytes
• 1 Petabyte = 1000 Terabytes

Next up we heard from Rudi Grobler all about Apps.  These were his tips:

• Use programs like Bug Sense and Little Watson to debug your apps
• Test your apps with real world data and monitor your heavy objects
• A useful twitter account to follow is @msdevsa 

On the next day we heard about Social Collaboration from @GarthLuke



His highlights included:

• Find people with common interests
• Social Media allows your company to learn faster than others
• Remember in this day and age everyone has their own device now
• Location does not matter, you can work anywhere.

In the Consumerisation of IT session we heard the following:

• Microsoft manages over 290 000 devices in SA
• Interesting point - Microsoft does not stop its workers from using social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.  They believe it is good for business. It has huge business value for them.

You can find more highlights here: 

https://storify.com/fredfelton/a-week-in-the-life-of-techedza

Finally for those of you that attended this conference you will recognize this.
The ICC is big and it is a long walk from one side to the other.
Sometimes you just had to sit on the floor and chill:



Look out for Part 2 of this article later in the week.

Article and Images by Fred Felton (@fredfelton)

Fred Felton was a guest of Microsoft South Africa.