Now browse the internet for free when riding Uber

The fight between the car hailing apps are getting tougher every other day.

Soon after Ola launched ‘Ola Select’ and offered a wide range of benefits for some special customers, taxi aggregator Uber has collaborated with Airtel to provide internet access to passengers. The scheme that kicks off in Mumbai this Saturday, Uber users would get access to free 4G Wifi in Uber cabs and an additional payment option via Airtel Money (Airtel’s e-Wallet) on the cab-hailing app. Drivers get subsidised mobile devices and data plans, the company said in a statement. The drivers will use an Airtel 4G enabled MiFi dongle which will have a battery life of 6 hours. Users will just have to click on 'UberWiFi' as an option and they will be logged on to the internet.

"This partnership is built on our shared visions and strengths of broad, reliable networks and connecting people to their world, anytime, anywhere," said Amit Jain, President, Uber India. Over the next few months, both companies will also be working on joint marketing campaigns.

"Our partnership with Uber is directly in line with our commitment to offer innovative and relevant services for our customers," said Srini Gopalan, director, consumer business, Bharti Airtel.

Drivers will be able to keep the phones charged for long distance rides by plugging the dongle into the cigarette lighter to keep them charged.
Internet on the go is nothing new in India, though. Luxury bus services in the country as well as international ones including Nepal offer free WiFi on board with the help of a small VSAT terminal in the bus.
Companies such as OnAir offer internet access to air passengers through such terminals which access web directly from the satellites. A few like GoGo offer air passengers wifi access by communicating with 3G towers on earth. However cab companies are using the local base stations to access the web.

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.