Thanks to a new partnership between Lyft and the tech giant Facebook, you can now find yourself a cab using the Messenger app. Being part of the multitude of the fast-serving taxi company group previously, Lyft allowed you to ring a cab from wherever you were, similarly to how Uber and the likes work. Now, along with Facebook, Lyft will make it even easier for you to call for a cab by simply using the Facebook Messenger.
According to Lyft’s official blog, they found the partnership to come natural due to the two companies sharing a ‘unique brand alignment’, with both parties sharing an interest in easing communication – either with other individuals or with businesses relevant to the user. As it is, this alliance will give users easier access to getting in touch with the car-hailing service, without the need of other apps.
However, this is a brand new change that has been brought to the Lyft service and as a result, acquiring a cab through Facebook Messenger is an option that currently only presents itself to individuals living in New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Austin, Texas as well as seven other states. However, the service will gradually become available to the entirety of the United States by next week, according to various sources.
But while this may sound like a unique partnership happening right now, it’s far from being the only one. It would appear that Lyft has been busy at work with stretching their roots as far as they can. Recently, they also announced partnering up with various companies, such as Starbucks, Shell, Slack and Waze to list a few. This is an undergoing attempt on behalf of the company to offer its API program to more developer parties.
Meanwhile, Facebook has also made another similar move, partnering up with Uber and beginning to make their services available through a simple tap. According to these events, there is a pattern showing up with the variety of services being made available on large communication hubs. It is a possibility that Facebook will soon host more than just a quick button for hailing a cab, as it slowly offers chances of partnership to a multitude of popular businesses.
Similarly, Lyft is having its own battle on the cab service market. Along with its attempt to not only integrate its services with as many major apps, but also expanding its field outside of the U.S. (for example, it recently released its app in China, India, and Southeast Asia) but also offering incentives to its users. Uber is currently offering $5 for any referral they make while Lyft is giving away $7.50 for each new user you bring to the service.
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