This Tech Bubble Is Bursting

Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by untog on Monday May 02, 2016 @11:38AM (#11612316)

> Uber feels like the Kleenex of its industry.

I agree but not, I think, in the way you intend. If someone asks for a Kleenex and they get passed a non-Kleenex brand tissue, they rarely object. "Uber" could just become the 21st Century "Hoover".

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by Touche on Monday May 02, 2016 @11:52AM (#11612483)

Tissue paper is bought at a grocery store with each brand sitting next to each other. If tissue paper brands each had their own store, like ride sharing apps do, then I think Kleenex wouldn't have the problem you describe.

Uber still has to compete on price, for sure. But there's certainly friction to A) download non-Uber ride sharing apps and (even greater IMO) B) open multiple apps to compare prices.

If Uber's price doesn't seem unreasonably high, what reason is there for people to compare?

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by LanguageGamer on Monday May 02, 2016 @12:10PM (#11612670)

I wonder how difficult it would be to build an app that lists and estimates fares for different local car services.

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by twinkletwinkle on Monday May 02, 2016 @02:08PM (#11613883)

https://goswift.ly/

My friend wrote it. Includes other modes of transportation like buses and scooter-shares.

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by dragonwriter on Monday May 02, 2016 @12:55PM (#11613140)

> I wonder how difficult it would be to build an app that lists and estimates fares for different local car services.

Google Maps (on Android, at least, but I assume generally, I just haven't checked elsewhere) has that feature already, though when I've checked what it showed it only listed Uber. Even if it is currently Uber-only, the feature's UI makes very clear that its intended to be a ride service time & cost estimate comparison feature, so...

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by dagwaging on Monday May 02, 2016 @12:02PM (#11612571)

>open multiple apps to compare prices

that gives me an idea...

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by Touche on Monday May 02, 2016 @12:41PM (#11613000)

It's a fair point, honestly Lyft or whoever should be doing this themselves. If they just listed competing prices (heck, even link out to the other apps) that would be a strong reason to use their app as your default.

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by goldbrick on Monday May 02, 2016 @06:26PM (#11616242)

Tangential, but this is exactly what's happened in some parts of the adtech market, it's called "mediation".

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by dragonwriter on Monday May 02, 2016 @12:56PM (#11613153)

> >open multiple apps to compare prices

> that gives me an idea...

...for the ride service fare and time comparison feature in Google Maps?

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by waitwhatwhoa on Monday May 02, 2016 @12:07PM (#11612633)

http://www.whatsthefare.com

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by Touche on Monday May 02, 2016 @12:39PM (#11612982)

There was a similar app during the check-in app craze (where a half-dozen competing apps existed) but that didn't stop Foursquare from eventually winning the space (even though it was arguably not the best of the options).

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by marssaxman on Monday May 02, 2016 @07:04PM (#11616477)

They invented the concept, so far as I was aware, in the form of Dodgeball. Foursquare was just their relaunch of Dodgeball after the failed Google acquisition.

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by __derek__ on Monday May 02, 2016 @01:13PM (#11613341)

Aw, poor Gowalla.

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by Touche on Monday May 02, 2016 @01:20PM (#11613424)

And loopt, brightkite, whrrl (spelling?) and probably more. And that was just within the "check into a place" category. There were also other categories like checking-in to what you're watching on tv (GetGlue), checking-in to what you're eating (Foodspotting), checking in to what you're drinking (Untappd).

Some of these are still around but most are not. Not sure if the ride-sharing space will turn out the same or not. I feel at least Uber and Lyft are probably safe.

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by __derek__ on Monday May 02, 2016 @01:54PM (#11613760)

This may be related to my provincial ignorance (I was in Ann Arbor during the check-in boom), but I remember Gowalla being the Lyft to Foursquare's Uber. Of course, there is an actual business model for the ride-sharing companies, so maybe there's room for multiple players.

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Re:This Tech Bubble Is Bursting by Touche on Monday May 02, 2016 @03:11PM (#11614531)

It's not a great comparison because Gowalla had essentially no competitive advantage, whereas Lyft at least has the chance to have one. Gowalla competed on "better design" for a while but ultimately the network effect of Foursquare mattered far more. Lyft is making headway in some cities so I think they're doing fine.

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