Uber To Allow Booking Rides Through WhatsApp In India: Report

"Starting this week, we are rolling out a new service that gives people the option to book an Uber ride via an official Uber WhatsApp chatbot," Uber saidin a blog post.

US ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Ltd said on Thursday it would roll out a feature that will allow users in India to book rides via messaging service WhatsApp. The move could help Uber tap into the more than 500 million user base of Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp in India.

"Starting this week, we are rolling out a new service that gives people the option to book an Uber ride via an official Uber WhatsApp chatbot," Uber said in a blog post.

Uber has been operating in the country for the past eight years and is now available in 100 cities. "Riders will no longer need to download or use the Uber app. Everything from user registration, booking a ride, and getting a trip receipt will be managed within the WhatsApp chat interface," Uber added.

WhatsApp users can book a ride through either messaging to Uber's business account number, scanning a barcode, or clicking a link directly to open an Uber WhatsApp chat.