Why a failure to update archaic laws will hinder the rise of the smart city February 3, 2015 With Uber and Google now going head to head in the battle to develop driverless car technology, the spotlight has fallen once again on the concept of the Smart City. There is no absolute definition of what a smart city is. But the broad idea is to use digital technologies to create more efficient, responsive, [...]
Uber partners with CMU to open self-driving taxi lab in Pittsburgh, US February 3, 2015 Uber has partnered with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in the US to open a robotics lab for the development of driverless cars. Called the Uber Advanced Technologies Center, the purpose of the research centre is to develop long-term technologies that allow Uber to bring “safe, reliable transportation to everyone, everywhere,” according to the driver-on-demand service. [...]
Why the smart data revolution creates opportunities for firms of every size January 25, 2015 We are witnessing a transformation of our economy, with data becoming one of the key drivers of every business. Increasingly, everything we do is digital, leaving a data trail that can be analysed to gain new insights and power innovative business ideas. This offers opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups that we have not seen since [...]
Eurozone to finally take the plunge with €1.1 trillion bond buying programme January 21, 2015 European officials are widely expected to announce a substantial bond buying programme today in an attempt to revive the Eurozone’s ailing economy. Reports from Frankfurt suggest the purchases will amount to €50bn (£38bn) a month until the end of 2016. Some reports suggest it could start as soon as March which would put the scheme’s [...]
Uber raises $1.6bn from Goldman Sachs clients January 21, 2015 Uber has raised $1.6 billion in financing from the clients of Goldman Sachs’s private wealth arm, adding even more cash to its ever-expanding pile. This comes months after the popular taxi-app raised $1.2 billion from big institutions, and one investment valued the company at a weighty $41.2 billion, the Financial Times reported. The cash will be used [...]
Lyft drops its signature furry pink moustache for brand new glowstache January 21, 2015 Ride-sharing taxi app and Uber rival Lyft has decided to drop one of its most distinctive features. Lyft drivers have been easy to spot ever since they rolled on to the streets of San Francisco three years ago thanks to the large pink moustaches displayed on the front of their cars. Lyft drivers have been [...]
Uber promises 50,000 new EU jobs if regulators play ball January 18, 2015 UBER boss Travis Kalanick yesterday vowed to create 50,000 new jobs in Europe this year, but only if regulators in European cities start working with Uber to introduce “progressive regulation” allowing the growth of ridesharing apps. “Uber is committed to establishing new partnerships with Europe’s cities to ensure innovation, harness powerful economic benefits and promote [...]
Uber’s Travis Kalanick wants to create 50,000 jobs in Europe January 18, 2015 Uber's chief executive Travis Kalanick has delivered a major speech on the company's future in Europe. Kalanick announced 2015 would the year that Uber worked with city authorities across Europe to introduce "progressive regulation" and work to update analogue rules. This follows the approach Uber has taken in the US. Uber's top boss struck a [...]
ECJ deals bitter blow to Addison Lee as black cabs retain exclusive right to bus lanes January 14, 2015 London's black cabs have retained the exclusive right to share the capital's bus lanes as a result of a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Eventech, the owner of a minicab fleet used by Addison Lee, brought the case to the ECJ after losing at the High Court. The company decided to fight [...]
Hailo picks up third new chief executive in three months January 13, 2015 TAXI app firm Hailo yesterday appointed its third chief executive in as many months, as the British so-called e-hail firm looks to close the gap on rivals such as Uber and Lyft. The company has drafted in Andrew Pinnington, a former chief operating officer of Carphone Warehouse. He spent 12 years at the British mobile [...]