Google removes Uber from in-app booking

In case you didn’t know it, Google Maps has an in-app function that lets you book a ride from your favorite ride-sharing service without having to leave the navigational app. But if that app is Uber, it seems like you won’t be able to do so anymore, either by design or they are still fixing a bug that has accidentally removed it. Either way, at least in the US, Lyft is the only one that you can use if you need to book a ride to your office or home or appointment through the Google Maps app.

If the ride sharing integration of Google Maps is news to you, it is one of the options that you’ll see when searching for directions to a place, which includes walking, driving, and public transit options. Uber was the only one available when they first added it back in 2014 but two years later, other options were added depending on the available ones in your territory. They were included in the Services tab. While you could always just book from your app directly, it saved you some time if you’re already on Google Maps anyway.

But now, you won’t be able to see the Uber option under the Services tab. According to Google though, it should still appear under that tab but instead of being able to book from Google Maps, you will see the “Open App” button, which actually defeats the original purpose. Not all accounts however have that Uber open app option, and so Google is reportedly looking into this probable bug.

If you’re in the US, you’ll now only see Lyft as your ride-sharing option. It is worth noting that Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has a $1 billion stake in Lyft while Google Ventures invested $258M in Uber. However, there was a suit involving Uber and Waymo, an autonomous driving company under Alphabet which was settled just last February. So maybe Uber’s disappearance from Google Maps isn’t really that surprising.

VIA: SlashGear

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