Ubers signs global agreement with Foursquare

Foursquare has announced that it has signed a “global, multi-year agreement” with Uber to supply its Points of Interest (POI) data. What this means in practice is that Uber users will be able to type in the name of their location – which could be a restaurant, office block or theatre – without having to insert the exact address.

Uber currently partners with Google Maps for Points of Interest – but while some places, like major airports, are easily listed on the app, others need an address.

Mike Harkey, Foursquare’s Vice President of Business Development, said yesterday (25 May): “There are a lot of obvious reasons why this is such a big deal to us, but there are also some really interesting nuances to this deal too.

“On the obvious side, Uber is a phenom. It’s completely changed the way we move through the world, disrupted entrenched transportation industries, created tons of economic opportunities, and all on a seriously global scale.

“Foursquare will enable Uber to customize, improve and increase the breadth of our non-personal POI location data to enhance Uber’s rider and driver experience. Also, these modifications will also be incorporated into Foursquare’s venue database going forward. It’s a natural fit for us to partner with Uber as a POI supplier.”

Emil Michael, Uber’s Chief Business Officer, added: “The breadth and accuracy of Foursquare’s location intelligence is impressive. With the ability to customize location data, we can make the user experience even better for Uber riders and drivers around the globe.”