Microsoft has reportedly invested $100 million in Uber, increasing the car-sharing app’s value to $51 billion.
According to online sources, Microsoft’s new investment was finalised on Friday. Although some industry experts have expressed doubts about the future of Uber, Microsoft’s recent interest will no doubt instil confidence in the mind of cynics.
As well as offering greater financial backbone, Microsoft’s investment may open new doors for the car-hailing app when it comes to technology, similarly to when the tech giant took the reins of phone company Nokia.
There have already been collaborations between Uber and Microsoft in the past, specifically with the former’s voice-controlled Cortana system, which has been incorporated into the Uber app, allowing users to schedule vocal prompts to book in a ride.
This $51 billion valuation is not all down to Microsoft’s investment, although it has added an additional $10 billion to its financial worth.
Uber has been collating investment from several lucrative companies over the past few years, with the likes of Chinese web company Baidu rumoured to have invested as much as $600 million in the app.
As more companies invest, Uber is looking more futureproof by the day, with its rapid progress continually compared to that of social media phenomenon, Facebook.
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