In a number of the most recent hassle in Republic of South Africa|African country|African nation}, Uber drivers have complained of intimidation and harassment by their rivals for business.
Here is what you would like to understand regarding the upstart transport firm.
Uber connects customers and drivers
Founded simply six years agone, the San Francisco-based Uber "seamlessly connects riders to drivers", because the company puts it.
Users transfer associate app that uses GPS technology to find out there drivers.
You faucet the screen to hail a cab and pay mechanically on arrival with a mastercard. Fares ar typically less than with ancient companies.
It operates in fifty seven countries, however Uber's ambitions transcend providing taxis - it's conjointly trialled messenger and sustenance delivery services.
It makes megabucks
Uber takes a cut of every fare. Since it doesn't directly use drivers, or own the vehicles, prices ar unbroken low.
Growth has been quick - some forecasts place revenues this year at around $2bn (£1.2bn).
It has conjointly attracted immense amounts of funding. A recent valuation estimates the corporate as price over $50bn (£31.7bn).
At this level, ought to Uber go public, it might be the largest start-up floatation since Facebook.
You could be associate Uber driver
The service desires an oversized pool of drivers to produce a reliable service, and is keen to worry however straightforward it's to affix.
You will want your own automobile for starters, and to hide the prices of fuel and coupling.
The company conjointly conducts background checks on potential recruits.
For drivers, despite the lower fares, there ar obvious perks, like having the ability to decide on your own hours.
It has furious ancient taxi drivers
Uber's growth has been matched by protests round the world. Canada, France, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, the U.S.A. and Britain have all seen demonstrations.
Such protests have brought traffic jam to major capital cities. sometimes, like in France, they turned violent.
The firm has had to produce security to shield its drivers in African nation when threats from ancient drivers.
Broadly, taxi drivers accuse Uber of unfair competition, undercutting costs by permitting unauthorized drivers to flee regulation needed for the professionals.
There are different controversies too
An Indian lady UN agency says she was raped by associate Uber driver in Delhi has filed a suit against the firm, accusive it of failing to make sure her safety.
Uber same it had been co-operating with the authorities. Its vetting method has conjointly been put out the spotlight by allegations of sexual assaults by drivers within the U.S.A. and North American nation.
The company has been suspect of aggressive business practices, together with cooking drivers from rival Lyft.
And Uber government Emil archangel same he was "plain wrong" for suggesting hiring researchers to acquire dirt on journalists UN agency wrote negative reports on the corporate.
But it's presumably here to remain
Uber's quality makes it exhausting to check it disappearing shortly. History has looked additional kindly on riotous technology than its critics, whether or not it's mechanised looms within the age or audio downloads.
But the firm will face challenges. native rules might bite, raising fares - a court in California last month dominated in favour of associate Uber driver UN agency argued she was associate worker, not a contractor, so was owed expenses.
It has been illegal in many countries. South Korea charged nearly thirty individuals joined to the corporate with running associate misbr taxi firm.
Uber conjointly faces competition from different cab-hailing services, like China's Didi Kuaidi, that recently attracted $2bn (£1.2bn) in funding.
And the model could be a winning one
Whatever Uber's future could also be, it's a part of a wider network of apps victimisation similar business models.
At its core, Uber links customers to one thing they need - during this case a taxi - uncovering away the necessity to create a telephone call or perhaps a Google search.
This can simply be tailored. need somewhere to stay? attempt Airbnb. however a few takeaway? Use simply Eat.
And it's this "interface" between shopper and provider, as French media government Tom Goodwin puts it, wherever "all the worth and profit is".
