Uber’s best perk is now also its quietest.
The ride-share service is launching “Quiet Mode” in its Uber Black and Uber Black SUV premium rides, which cost 2-3 times as much as an UberPool or UberXL. The feature, launched today in the U.S., is an app setting where riders can select “Quiet preferred” (or “happy to chat” or “no preference”) and receive a near-silent ride.
Quiet Mode is part of a larger set of personalized rider preferences for Uber Black that includes help with luggage (users will let drivers know in advance they have bags so the drivers can pull over somewhere more convenient and help them load ’em in), temperature control, an extended pickup period of 15 minutes, premium phone support and more nebulous concepts like “professionalism” and “consistent vehicle quality,” which are essentially expanded car and driver requirements (e.g. currently the Uber Black drivers must have a minimum rating of 4.85 stars, be insured to drive commercially and meet state- and local-level livery regulations.)
“We’re looking to create more differentiation between the premium products and the regular products to encourage more trips,” Uber product manager Aydin Ghajar told Josh Constine of TechCrunch. “[Quiet Mode] is something that people have been asking for for a long time.” However, due to employment laws, the company can’t require the drivers to abide by the no-talking terms.
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