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Internet Uber India

Uber ups Indian ante with Times Internet digital ad partnership

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By John McCarthy | Opinion Editor

March 23, 2015 | 2 min read

Ride-hailing app Uber has entered into a partnership with one of India’s biggest digital publishers to gain leverage in the nation’s taxi market.

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The deal with Times Internet, which administers some of India’s largest websites including the Times of India, the Economic Times, the Navbharat Times and the Maharashtra Times was described by the publisher group as a "strategic investment and cooperation partnership to support Uber's expansion in India," according to the Economic Times.

As a result of the deal which has been valued at $16m, Uber will be able to access the group’s 150 million monthly active users. The ET quoted ‘people familiar with the transaction’ claiming that Uber will gain the advertising gravitas needed to take root in the booming nation in exchange for a small equity component.

An Uber spokesperson told ET: “This strategic investment and cooperation partnership with Times Internet is to support Uber's expansion in India. The investment is in Uber.”

Uber founder and chief executive, Travis Kalanick, said: “There is no better partner than Times Internet whose leadership shares our vision of a world that brings people and their cities closer together with reliable transportation, everywhere and for everyone."

Uber has faced its fair share of misfortune in India with a less-than-smooth entrance into the market. Last December the app was banned in New Delhi after a driver raped and threatened to kill a female passenger.

Following a nationwide clampdown on unregistered online “ride-sharing” apps, Uber made a return the New Delhi in January after finally buckling and applying for taxi licenses.

Internet Uber India

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