Uber Brings Ride-sharing to Tulsa
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/technology/uber-brings-ride-sharing-to-tulsa/article_83952798-b5d7-11e3-a187-001a4bcf6878.htmlBy ROBERT EVATT World Business Writer
Pooneet Kant, general manager of Uber Oklahoma, tapped his smartphone, received a notification and relayed it to the TYPros members gathered around him at Guthrie Green.
“Nick is one minute away and ready to pick you up,” he said.
As the TYPros members piled into Nick Georgopoulos’ car, Uber officially launched its services in Tulsa and brought a new transportation option to the area.
Uber, a San Francisco-based company, provides an app designed to connect passengers with drivers for hire. Passengers can use the app to request a ride, and drivers in that area can choose to accept the assignment for a fee.
Though Uber is continuing to expand -- Kant said the service is offered in 85 cities worldwide -- Tulsa appeared on the company’s radar thanks in part to TYPros, a division of the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Last December, the organization’s second Bring It To Tulsa campaign launched to try to encourage Uber to come to Tulsa. Not only did TYPros officials meet with Uber, they encouraged Tulsans to download the Uber app to get the company’s attention.
The plan worked much faster than the organization expected, said Isaac Roche, 2014 chairman of TYPros.
“We were surprised when we met with them last week and found out they were planning on coming to Tulsa,” he said.
Kant said the TYPros campaign was the deciding factor.
“Their campaign is one of the coolest things we’ve seen as a company,” Kant said. “It was more than enough support that we were very confident we’d have the support to launch.”