People raise questions.
Have you ever noticed that Uber rides can cost more on an iPhone than on an Android phone? One man saw this and wanted to know why.
He took a screenshot and shared it on X (formerly Twitter). He showed the same ride, but the price was higher on his iPhone than on his Android phone. Many people on social media were surprised and started talking about it!
It turned out that many people have noticed this. Uber and Ola rides can cost more when you use an iPhone. The companies can see if someone is using an Android or iPhone by collecting data from the apps.
Uber says they do not change prices because of the phone. They say prices change because of the time, distance, etc. But Ola has not said anything about this yet.
What is differential pricing?
Differential pricing means charging different prices for the same thing. Companies may charge more or less for something depending on where you are, what phone you use, or what time it is.
Some people think this is unfair, especially if it’s just because of the phone you’re using!
The Indian government steps in.
The Indian government is now checking if Uber, Ola, and other companies are charging unfair prices.
Minister Pralhad Joshi said it is not fair and that customers should know how prices are set. The government is also looking at other businesses, like food delivery and online shopping, to see if they do the same thing.
