Though it wasn’t possible for a long time, you can now even request an Uber in an advance so you don’t need to whip out your phone exactly at the time you need a ride. Do take a look at the many different ways you can order an Uber right from the apps you’re probably already using every day.
1. Request a Ride in Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger has an Uber bot that lets you request an Uber at your current location right while you’re in the middle of a conversation with somebody. When you’re chatting with someone in the Messenger app, just tap the Car icon to select Uber or Lyft for your ride. Once you pick Uber, you’ll get a message from the Uber chatbot informing you of the next step. Tap Request a Ride in the message to log into your Uber account and request your ride. You need to enable your current location, then choose your pick up location and destination. Your payment information is already in Uber, so the API within Facebook Messenger will just use your default method. When you’re ready, tap Request and another message will tell you how long until the driver arrives.
2. Schedule a Ride with TaxiLater
If you thought scheduling to request an Uber for later was impossible, you thought wrong. A new, free app called TaxiLater lets you do just that, and it’s pretty straightforward. Just download it and log in with your Uber credentials. The app’s interface is similar to that of Uber’s so from there it’s just a matter of setting your pickup location and your destination. Choose the time and date you want to schedule your Uber pickup for, then select the type of service: UberX, UberBLACK, UberSUV, etc. Then tap Request Uber to put in your reservation.
3. Request a Ride in Foursquare
Foursquare is another third-party app with Uber baked in so that you can get a ride to any venue you’re exploring. While viewing a venue, if Uber is supported you’ll see a small Uber icon under the address and contact information. Tap this section to get an estimate of when the Uber would arrive if you requested one. If you want to request an Uber, tap the Uber estimate and select your ride service — or you can open the Uber app from here for more options. This also provides an estimate of the cost of transportation from your current location.
4. Request a Ride in Telegram
Telegram, a competitor to WhatsApp, has a fine collection of messenger bots that just happens to include an Uber bot. It can request an Uber for you from the app. In Telegram (be it mobile or desktop version) just start a new conversation and type in “myuberbot” for the username. Then tap Start to begin the bot. First, you’ll have to authenticate through Uber by tapping the link. Then enter your exact address where you want to be picked up. The Uber bot will prompt you to tap a corresponding number for the Uber service you want and at last, confirm your request for a ride. ALSO SEE: Top 8 Third Party Apps for Facebook Messenger
