How the next mayor can turn London into a truly digital city January 26, 2016 In a little over three months, Londoners will elect a new mayor. When we last went to the polls in 2012, London’s tech industry was only just starting to bloom, but since then it has gone on to become the driving force of the capital’s economy. The next mayor will take the helm of the undisputed [...]
Delivering people isn’t Uber’s $40bn dream – Bottom Line February 3, 2015 If Uber floated on the London Stock Exchange tomorrow – don’t hold your breath – it would be the thirteenth largest FTSE 100 constituent. Its $40bn (£26.3bn) valuation is larger than that of Twitter ($24.7bn) or Adobe ($35bn). News that Uber is exploring self-driving cars, mapping and vehicle safety shouldn’t surprise those who watch the [...]
Forbes top 40 richest individuals under 40 2015: Who are the richest young Americans and how did they make their money? November 20, 2015 No surprises here, as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg claims the accolade for the richest American under 40. Indeed, Zuckerberg's fortune, which is now worth $47.1bn, is more than four times as much as the second person in the ranks – his college pal and Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, who has a net worth of $9.7bn. In fact, eight [...]
Uber apologises for Sydney siege surge pricing December 24, 2014 Uber has apologised for the sharp rise in prices that occurred in the midst of the Sydney siege. Uber's prices quadrupled thanks to a massive surge in demand during the crisis that resulted in the deaths of three people. The taxi app's surge pricing policy is triggered automatically by way of an algorithm. On the [...]
China crisis for Uber as taxi app is facing crackdown in Beijing January 8, 2015 Controversial cab app Uber is facing a ban in Beijing, with officials in the Chinese capital saying that internet hailing apps violate rules against illegal taxis. The San Francisco-based company has faced numerous regulatory difficulties over the past few months. Use of the app is no longer permitted in New Delhi after one of its [...]
Uber takes fresh hit after Dutch court bans UberPop taxi app December 8, 2014 Taxi app company Uber took a fresh hit today after a court in the Netherlands ruled that the San Francisco startup's UberPop service is now banned because of licensing issues. The Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal in The Hague decided UberPop drivers could be whacked with fines of €10,000 (£7,800) if they violate the rule, [...]
Taiwan could ban Uber for “illegal” operations December 22, 2014 What do Spain, Thailand, Colombia, France and the Netherlands have in common? All have taken action against Uber services – including banning the taxi app outright – and Taiwan could be the latest to follow suit. Uber faces a possible ban in Taiwan after the country’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) revealed [...]
Uber’s in-car Spotify tie-up launches in London on Friday November 17, 2014 In a move which will surely prompt a rash of one-star ratings from irate Uber drivers tired of being subjected to death metal, the private hire cab app has announced it's teamed up with Spotify to allow passengers to stream their playlists through their cabs' soundsystems. In a joint press conference today, founders of the [...]
Black Cabs, Underground posters and the Tube map top the list of London’s most iconic transport designs November 4, 2015 Life-long Londoner, city adoptee or just passing through: whatever your relationship with the British capital, it conjures up a strong set of images. Not least when it comes to our transport. Love it or loathe it (I think we know which one) our daily commute gets imprinted on our brain, and with it the iconic designs [...]
London mayor Boris Johnson unveils plans to build 200,000 homes as part of his “city in the East” October 22, 2015 London Mayor Boris Johnson wants to expand the capital eastwards by building more than 200,000 homes, after new research showed the area's building potential is actually four times greater than previously thought. Johnson's "City in the East" plan, launched today, stretches from from London Bridge to the Isle of Dogs and Greenwich Peninsula, through to Ilford in Essex and Dartford [...]