Uber released a new hardware device called the Uber Beacon in selected areas, December 14. It is a small gadget that lights up and it functions through Bluetooth.
In an article published by Tech Crunch, Uber's new device would help customers see their ride when it arrives because of the LED light that comes with it. The Beacon has the logo of Uber and riders could stick it on their car's windshield, making it easier for customers to notice them. This gadget is still limited when it comes to its availability, as the company has only released it in some cities like Miami, Nashville, and Newcastle in the United Kingdom just to name a few. Soon it will be deployed in all cities where Uber is available.
Moreover, The Verge wrote more about its features like it has changing colors. The customer could pick the color of her driver's Beacon when it lights up. As soon as the driver accepts the customer's request for the ride, the app would give out an advise to the customer about choosing a color for the Beacon.
Whatever color the customer chooses, that is the color that would appear on the driver's Beacon. This will stop customers second-guessing the ride they requested. Uber's product lead for this project, Nikhil Goel, said that the Beacon's goal is to personalize the experience their riders have with Uber.
This is not the first time that Uber had this idea because last year, they launched a product called Spot in Seattle. The purpose is the same with Beacon and that is to stop awkward car mix ups . So far, Seattle loved the idea. The company saw the potential of Spot and decided to improve its design along with its hardware. They are hoping that people all over the world would also appreciate their new product.
