Taxi-hailing app, Uber announced today a strategic handshake with Airtel, world’s third largest mobile service provider and India’s leading player. In a fist-of-its-kind innovative partnership, Uber riders across India gets another payment option for their trips and can use Airtel’s mobile wallet service – Airtel Money. Plus, the Uber riders also can enjoy free 4G WiFi internet service, powered by Airtel 4G while riding on the cab. Initially, the internet service will be tested in Mumbai and then the service will be rolled out pan India. The announcement is significant since Uber can leverage upon the telecom giant’s 200 million customer base in India. The drivers will use an Airtel 4G enabled MiFi dongle which will have a battery life of 6 hours. A ‘UberWiFi’ option will be seen when searching network and the riders can log in during the riding time and enjoy the high-speed internet service. For Airtel, it also turns the Uber cabs into a free 4G experience centers on the move for new users to try the service. Uber is betting high on Indian market and last month it had announced its plans to invest $1 billion into the country in the next nine months. Last month, Uber announced that it is going to invest $1 billion in the Indian market in the next nine months. The San Francisco headquartered company also raised close to $100 million of funding from private equity firm Tata Opportunities Fund, last week. ]]>
