【Corruption (1983)】

You can Corruption (1983)now add Uber to your list of holiday gift ideas.

The ride-hailing service just rolled out a set of updates that include the ability to request trips for friends and family members without Uber accounts, as well as new in-app gifting features, and a new "live location" sharing feature.

SEE ALSO: Uber just released the ultimate millennial credit card

The update rolls out today and lets Uber users request rides for others who may not have an Uber account, or even a smartphone.

Uber says this is something that's already commonplace, particularly in markets like Brazil, where smartphones aren't as ubiquitous as they are in the U.S. Now, though, people can choose individuals from their contacts list and call a car on their behalf. The driver will see their name and phone number, as well as their location, which the Uber user also specifies.

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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

In addition to all of this, the company is rolling out a new in-app gifting option, which lets you buy Uber credit for friends from within the app. Uber has offered physical gift cards for some time, but this is the first time they've brought the feature to the app.

Additionally, Uber is adding a new "live location" sharing feature that's meant to make the pickup process go more smoothly. The feature allows riders to share their current location with drivers.

Uber says it's meant to alleviate some of the pain points of pickups, such as when a rider has to walk around the corner or down the street after setting their location in the app. With the feature, the driver will be able to see their exact whereabouts until the ride starts, at which point the location sharing will turn off.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The company acknowledges that not everyone will want to share their location, which is by it's optional; But Uber product manager Nundu Janakiram says early testing of the feature has resulted in fewer cancellations and faster pickups.

For those who may not want to share their location, Uber is also expanding its Beacon feature to three new cities: New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Similar to Lyft's color-changing Amp gadgets, Uber's Beacons stick to drivers' windshields and change colors to make it easier for riders to spot them.

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Topics Uber

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