Verizon Wireless to offer monthly discounts for Lyft drivers, embed app in Android devices

Verizon Wireless said it is partnering with ride-sharing service provider Lyft on a multiyear deal to offer monthly discounts for Lyft drivers and embed the Lyft application on new Android-powered smartphones.

The carrier said that beginning May 11, Lyft drivers can access the company’s Accelerate Premier Driver Rewards program that allows new and existing Verizon Wireless customers to shop with a register for the program’s discounts through a Web portal. The program provides Lyft drivers with discounts on auto maintenance, various services and head-of-the-line perks depending on the number of rides the driver provides per month.

Lyft drivers interact with customers through an application that allows those in need of a ride to summon a driver using the application and embedded GPS in their smartphone. Customers also pay for their rides through the application. The service is similar to Uber, which is a competing ride-share offering.

Verizon Wireless also reported that beginning immediately all new smartphones running Google’s Android operating system would come preloaded with the Lyft application.

“Lyft represents an emerging and innovative partner for Verizon in the transportation and sharing economy space. This is an exciting opportunity for us to chart new territories and create a broader user base,” said Russ Preite, region president for Verizon Wireless.

The preloading of the application could be more controversial as a segment of smartphone users tend to dislike having applications preloaded onto their mobile device that can then not be fully removed thus taking up space on a device’s memory or draining battery resources by running in the background unless they are fully disabled.

AT&T last year announced a partnership with Uber to embed the Uber application in new Android-powered smartphones. The partnership also included AT&T Mobility becoming one of Uber’s “key providers of new wireless service” to Uber drivers in the United States. The two companies said the new arrangement builds on an ongoing partnership with AT&T managing device and data needs for Uber’s partner drivers.

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