MAM
Uber launches UberOne to make ridesharing easier
MUMBAI: : How many times have you been left stranded waiting for another Uber driver to accept your request after the first has said yes and then cancelled at the last minute?
Almost all of us have fallen victim to this behaviour with Uber drivers at the end of a long day when we have wanted to get home after a tiring day at work or a long haul flight.
Well Uber has heard travelers’ painful complaints and launched UberOne, its first membership program in India. Its intent: bring unprecedented savings and exclusive benefits to millions of riders across the country. Uber’s global membership program offers discounts and exclusive experiences for rides, helping members navigate everyday life more easily.
Passengers can pick up one of two membership plans: Rs 149 per month or Rs 1499 annually. Uber will also offer exciting launch period discounts on the monthly plan. With UberOne, members can access exclusive savings and benefits, making it a smart choice for riders. Members can enjoy up to 10% UberOne credits on each ride, resulting in significant savings and valuable perks.
As a first-of-its-kind program in the Indian ridesharing market, UberOne reflects Uber’s commitment to understanding local preferences, ensuring that its tailored offerings cater to the needs of its riders in India.
Now here comes the clincher: preferential access to the highest-rated drivers. By prioritizing quality and reliability, members can expect an elevated experience every time they ride with Uber, ensuring their safety and convenience. Additionally, UberOne provides premium, round-the-clock customer support exclusively for members. This dedicated support team ensures quick and efficient resolutions to any issues, enhancing the overall experience for riders.
“Mobility is essential and affordability is paramount and with the launch of Uber One, we’re excited to bring a unique membership experience to our riders in India,” says Uber India & south Asia president Prabhjeet Singh. ” We understand the importance of value and convenience in everyday travel, and we’re committed to delivering a program that offers just that. Uber One is designed to enhance our riders’ experience and make every journey even more rewarding.”
The membership program is available across all Uber ride options, including UberGo, Premier, XL, Reserve, Auto, Moto, Intercity, Rental, Shuttle and Package – making it accessible for a wide range of travel preferences. Uber users can sign up directly from the latest version of the Uber app, gaining immediate access to the benefits.
AD Agencies
Omnicom Q4: Posts big revenue gains amid restructuring
Company trims underperforming units and launches $5B share buyback to reward investors.
MUMBAI: Omnicom has decided that in the world of global advertising, it is better to be a big fish in an even bigger pond. The marketing powerhouse, which recently swallowed its rival IPG, has kicked off 2026 by showing the market that it is not just buying growth – it is engineering it. In a series of bold strategic manoeuvres, the group has doubled its projected cost-savings target to a whopping $1.5 billion over the next three years.
The fourth-quarter results for 2025, released on 18 February 2026, paint a picture of a company in the midst of a massive structural makeover. Reported revenue for the quarter shot up 27.9 per cent to $5,528.8 million, a figure heavily bolstered by the first full month of IPG’s operations under the Omnicom umbrella. For the full year, revenue reached $17,271.9 million, marking a 10.1 per cent increase as the company integrated heavyweights like Acxiom Real iD and Flywheel Commerce Cloud into its next generation Omni platform.
However, bigger does not always mean tidier. The group reported a Gaap net loss of $941.1 million for the final quarter, or $4.02 per diluted share. This was primarily due to a massive $1.1 billion bill for severance and real estate repositioning, alongside a $543.4 million loss on the sale of non-strategic businesses. When these one-off integration headaches are stripped away, the underlying performance looks far more robust, with adjusted net income reaching $607.7 million and earnings per share of $2.59, comfortably ahead of the prior year’s $2.41.
The group is also trimming the fat elsewhere. Management has identified underperforming and non-strategic units representing approximately $2.5 billion in revenue for exit or sale. Meanwhile, smaller majority-owned markets bringing in $700 million are being moved to minority positions. This portfolio pruning is designed to focus the New Omnicom on higher-growth areas like media, creative content, and data-driven consulting.
Investors, it seems, are being kept sweet with a significant return of capital. The board has approved a fresh $5 billion share repurchase program, initiating an immediate $2.5 billion accelerated buyback. This comes on top of $549.6 million paid out in common dividends during the year.
Performance across the sectors was a mixed bag but generally positive in the heavy-hitting divisions. Media and advertising revenue surged 34.4 per cent in the fourth quarter to $3,322.6 million, while public relations grew 12.4 per cent to $500.8 million. On the flip side, branding and retail commerce saw a 7.0 per cent dip. Regionally, the US remains the engine room, with revenue jumping 51.9 per cent to $2,869.1 million in the quarter, while the UK saw a respectable 18.8 per cent rise to $533.2 million.
With a total debt of $9.1 billion following the IPG acquisition, the group is leaning on its cash-generative nature to keep its investment-grade credit rating intact. Free cash flow for the year stood at $2,226.1 million, up from $1,964.7 million in 2024. As the company moves into 2026, the focus is firmly on the Connected Capability model, essentially ensuring that its global army of talent is pulling in the same direction, and more importantly, within a much leaner budget.
