Uber is making it easier for families to be in sync when on the go.
The ride-hailing app announced Wednesday that it is introducing a new feature called Family Profiles, enabling families to share one Uber account with one convenient payment method, so that any member can pay for rides without each having to use his or her own credit card.
The way it will work is similar to Uber's current payment options, which enables users to seamlessly switch between their personal credit card and corporate accounts to pay for rides. However, with Family Profiles, riders will switch between their personal accounts with the ride-sharing service and family accounts. Each Family Profile account will have one account manager who invites the rest of the members. Once recipients accept the invite, they're added to the Profile and are authorized to charge rides on the account.
While it figures to be a rather convenient feature, it could also prove to be a safe one, too, as parents could seemingly use the feature to track their children's whereabouts. The same goes for the elderly, too. Younger kids could also use the Family Profiles to order a ride in the unforeseen event their parents can't make it to pick them up. That would require parents giving their children a smartphone and access to Uber, something that's already experiencing an uptick among parents and their preteens, according to a study spotted by Mashable.
Family Profiles will first launch in Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix, before possibly being available in other major cities across the United States. Currently, each Family Profile account will let up to 10 riders share one payment method.
"While we've called this feature Family Profiles, we let you decide who is family," Uber wrote in a blog post, as part of its announcement Wednesday. "It's a great way to help loved ones, friends or coworkers get where they want to go while you foot the bill. Whether you're a parent with kids away at college or a daughter wanting to help your parents maintain their independence, it's never been easier to share some Uber love around to the people that matter most in your life."
