Uber, the popular app-oriented ridesharing service, announced plans to begin offering a full line of services in the Palm Springs area, beginning with the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this weekend.
Using their smartphones users can find a personal driver nearby, rather than hailing a traditional taxi. The service is now available in dozens of cities around the world. The company said the price of its UberX service would be 25 percent less than a taxi.
Residents have been able to catch an Uber ride in Palm Springs for several months, but the official launch marks some higher-end services like UberBlack, UberSUV and even UberStretch, allowing users to hail a ride in a limousine via their smartphones between April 11 and 28.
The company will have a lounge at Coachella, at Lot 1C, where they can request a pickup ride.
The Palm Springs website also shows flat rates from Los Angeles to Palm Springs ($149), from San Diego to Palm Springs ($199) and from Orange County ($129).