Uber is planning to add a digital “content marketplace” to its ride-hailing app this spring, TechCrunch reports. The new functionality is said to debut in the Uber app in April and will include a broad range of content from Uber’s partners. The digital content marketplace that the San Francisco-based tech giant is reportedly working on will be based on the Trip Experiences functionality that debuted in select markets in early 2016, sources claim. Uber has yet to comment on the matter but more details are bound to be available shortly if the content marketplace in question is indeed going to debut this spring.
The feature itself will completely change the experience of using the Uber app while getting a ride. Once your Uber arrives and you get into it, the app will allegedly present you with a card feed filled with shortcuts to apps made by third-party developers that have partnered with Uber. All of the apps offered by Uber will be related to your trip in one way or another as the aforementioned report indicates people will be able to use them to learn more details about their destination or simply enjoy some lighthearted entertainment while they’re traveling to their destination. Furthermore, the digital content marketplace that’s said to be coming to the app will also feature productivity and communications tools, with the latter one being directly related to your destination. This presumably means that you’ll be able to do something like order an Uber to a restaurant and then get provided with a quick way to contact the very same restaurant as maybe you’ll want to let them know you’ll be ten minutes late for your reservation.
While the upcoming functionality is allegedly based on Trip Experiences, it’s unclear whether it’ll get rebranded once Uber releases it. Furthermore, the report states that developers won’t have to pay money to get their products featured by Uber, at least not initially. Likewise, a source with knowledge of the matter said that Uber isn’t planning to feature any kind of ads in the upcoming marketplace feed. While it remains to be seen whether this report is accurate, it’s probably fair to assume that if this new feature is real and coming to the Uber app in the coming months, it’s availability will likely be limited to certain regions.