Skip to main content

You may soon be able to hail Lyft across the globe, if signs are accurate

Lyft
Lyft
Lyft, the second-largest ridesharing giant, may be reversing course to take its brand global.  Growing faster and cutting losses more quickly than Uber, according to CNBC, Lyft will open up on its expansion plans later in 2017.

The company has not confirmed global expansion plans, but a spokesperson did tell CNBC, “Along with our international partners, we are updating how we serve our users traveling abroad. We will now direct them to download the partner’s app in the country they are visiting.”

That is a change. Formerly Lyft customers traveling in southeast Asia, India, and China could hail rides with the Grab, Ola, or Didi ridesharing services, respectively, via the Lyft app. Grab, Ola, or Didi customers could use their accustomed apps in the U.S. and a Lyft driver would show up. Lyft formed the reciprocal agreements with the international companies in 2015.  Now in each case customers will need to access the app for the service that will be providing the ride.

According to Lyft, the reciprocal app-sharing change “will provide travelers with improved functionality and service in local markets.”

The San Jose Mercury News reported that in 2016 the ridesharing company had $700 million in revenue and losses of $600 million, citing an unnamed source with knowledge of Lyft’s finance. The latter number is half the company’s 2015 loss. The same source told the Mercury News that the company is on course to profitability by 2018. On the company blog, Lyft announced its drivers completed 160 million rides in 2016, three times the number in 2015.

Spokesperson Adrian Durbin emailed a response to the Mercury News’ query about the CNBC statement on the company’s intent to go global. While he didn’t directly address the question, Durbin wrote,  “We continue to have strong relationships with our international partners and will explore additional ways of working together.”

Editors' Recommendations

Bruce Brown
Digital Trends Contributing Editor Bruce Brown is a member of the Smart Homes and Commerce teams. Bruce uses smart devices…
You may soon be able to skip the grocery checkout line at Kroger
skip grocery checkout line kroger stand

After a 25-store test run over the last couple years, Kroger is expanding the Scan, Bag, Go service to roughly 400 stores during 2018. Somewhat similar to Amazon's Go convenience store, shoppers at Kroger will be able to fill their shopping basket with scanned items and exit the store after a quick stop at a self-checkout station.

Using a smartphone, users have to scan each item when placed in their cart rather than scanning the items at checkout. The Scan, Bag, Go mobile app keeps track of the running total -- ideal for anyone on a budget. When a shopper is ready to leave, they exit at a self checkout station, scan their smartphone, and submit payment. Kroger's future plan for the app will store credit card information in order to complete the purchase without even visiting a self-checkout station.

Read more
You may soon be able to presave albums on Spotify thanks to Show.co
The Spotify app icon on a smartphone.

Most of us aren't exactly in the business of buying albums anymore. Services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal have all but obviated the need to pay for individual songs, and it doesn't look like our love affair with these streaming services is going away anytime soon (much to the benefit of the music industry).

But just because you're not buying albums as soon as presale offers come out doesn't mean you don't want to be the first to hear a new album when it drops. And now, Show.co is here to help ensure that you're always up to date on the latest hit sand releases. The marketing platform from CD Baby will now allow users to offer presaves on Spotify. That means that music lovers will soon be able to hit save for a yet-to-be-released album, and find the newest tracks in their library.

Read more
You may soon be able to stare at a screen instead of the scenery on a chairlift
screens on chairlifts alpinemediadigitalscreenchairlift

It's official -- our obsession with screen time has finally gotten out of hand. A Denver-based company called Alpine Media Technology has created a system that puts digital screens on the safety bars of chairlifts. Because if, for some reason, the beauty of the scenery beneath you and the promise of fresh powder isn't enough to draw your attention, maybe a screen can do the trick.

To be fair, it's not as though these screens will be playing television (though don't give these folks any ideas). Instead, they will display digital trail maps, safety tips, weather updates, trail conditions, and GPS coordinates to show chair riders their exact location. They will also, however, display ads (because these screens can't pay for themselves). Apparently, Alpine has already negotiated deals and signed contracts with both Winter Park Resort in Colorado and Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Massachusetts for the upcoming winter season.

Read more