Just a few days ago, Microsoft co-founder Steve Ballmer said at the company’s annual shareholder meeting that Windows 10 universal apps strategy won’t work. He suggested that the new OS should let Android apps work on Windows. But now the universal apps have received Uber’s endorsement. The taxi-hailing service took to Microsoft’s Windows blog to announce the launch of its Windows 10 universal app that works across PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
Will other developers follow Uber?
Uber executive Yuixin Zhu said the power of universal Windows platform enabled the company to develop a single app that delivers the right experience to whatever device the customer is using. Microsoft hopes more developers would follow Uber. The Redmond-based software giant said Windows 10 desktop users can do everything that they can do on smartphone versions of the app, except texting and calling the driver.
You can register with Uber, request a ride, and choose a pickup location. The app shows your driver’s location as well as a cost estimate. The Windows 10 universal Uber app gets Live Tile support to keep you updated with the current status of the cab. It displays the estimated time it would take for your Uber to arrive on the Live Tile, eliminating the needs to open the app on your mobile device.
Uber offers universal Windows 10 users a free ride
If you are a new user, you can sign up on your desktop app with your mobile number. You’ll receive a verification text message on your phone with a code, which you can enter in the desktop app. What’s more, the app works with Cortana. Just open the digital assistant and ask, “Hey Cortana, get me an UberX to (your address).” As if that was not enough, Uber users with the new universal Windows 10 app can get a free ride using the code MSFTWIN10 under the promotions tab.
Uber already had a Windows Phone app, but the quality of apps in Microsoft’s app store hasn’t been very good. Developers don’t devote as much time and efforts on the maintenance, features and stability of their pre-Windows 10 apps as they do for their Android and iOS apps.
