Uber, the global smartphone app that connects riders with partner drivers, has launched Uber Lite, a redesigned, simplified version of the Uber app in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Uber Lite is being launched across the region to give consumers the opportunity to book a ride irrespective of the quality of their network connection.
Tino Abdellatif Waked, general manager, Middle East and North Africa for Uber, said: “Uber is all about providing reliable transport solutions to our riders, and it stands to reason that the quality of the network connection should not pose a hurdle to achieving that goal. With Uber Lite it’s possible to book a ride even in low connectivity areas, and the data usage while doing so is also limited. We have made the app easier and more convenient, but without compromising on any of the Uber’s hallmark features.”
At less than 5MB download size and available in both English and Arabic, Uber Lite enables those with basic smartphones operating in spotty network conditions to book a ride and start their journey. The lighter version of the app reduces data consumption without sacrificing on any of its main functionalities. In fact, some of its features work even when the app is not connected to the internet.
“Uber Lite makes picking your destination as easy as a tap of a button. Instead of typing where you are, you can choose a nearby point of interest. Additionally, the app stores the city’s top places so that even when you are offline, no network is needed for them to appear. And with a 300-millisecond response time (literally the blink of the eye), the booking process is fast even in low connectivity,” the company said in a statement.
Uber Lite was specifically developed to cut down on mobile data consumption, as well as work in areas with limited network connectivity.
It has many of its existing features like the ability to share your trip with friends and family and driver and vehicle details. The app went live in the UAE and Saudi Arabia on Monday, before which it had already been launched in Pakistan, Qatar, Lebanon, Bahrain and Tanzania.
