Uber

Uber is an app-based transportation network and taxi company headquartered in San Francisco, California, which operates in cities in many countries. The company uses a smartphone application to receive ride requests, and then sends these trip requests to their drivers.[1][2] Customers use the app to request rides and track their reserved vehicle's location.[3] As of 16 December 2014 the service was available in 53 countries and more than 200 cities worldwide,[4] and was valued at more than US$40 billion.[5] Uber's launch has sparked a dramatic proliferation in companies emulating Uber's business model, a trend that has come to be referred to as "Uberification".[6][7]

Upon its inception, Uber offered only full-size luxury cars for hire, and the "UberBlack" title was adopted for the company's main service (named after the "black cars" private transportation services in New York City).[3] In 2012, the company launched its "UberX" program, which expanded the service to any qualified driver with an acceptable vehicle. Due to a lack of regulation, Uber can offer lower fees, so the service has become extremely competitive with traditional taxi services, expanding Uber's appeal to a broader cross-section of the market.[8]

Uber is the subject of ongoing protests from taxi drivers, taxi companies and governments who believe that it is an illegal taxicab operation that engages in unfair business practices and compromises passenger safety. As of December 2014, protests had been staged in Germany, India, Spain, France, and England, among other nations, while incidents involving passengers have been documented. Uber was free on October 13, 2014.