Ola thinks it has the perfect trick to compete in Uber's fastest growing market

Ola will keep you entertained during your ride.
 By 
Manish Singh
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

There's only so much you can differentiate when you are a cab ride hailing company that is competing with Uber. You could possibly ensure better cars, better service and better pricing.

Having tried most of these, with mixed results, India's Uber rival Ola is looking at making cab experience more entertaining for riders, hoping it would make riders hop on to its cabs more often.

In November, the Indian company announced Ola Play, a a connected car entertainment platform, through which it gave the controls of the in-car entertainment system to passengers. The service was available only to users who subscribed to Ola's "Select" plan, which according to the company "saw hundreds of thousands of new users opt for Select subscription, resulting in 3x growth".

Two months later, the company says it is bringing Ola Play to all its Prime cabs — premium cars such as Sedan and MUV’s — across India. The infotainment tablet, attached to the back of the front seat, can be accessed using a mobile app.

Through Ola Play, the taxi company is offering commuters access to music and video streaming services such as Apple Music, and Sony LIV. Ola says it has also partnered with comedy groups AIB and TVF for their content.

Passengers also get access to Audio Compass, an app that offers "authentic information and immersive audio-guided experiences", and fashion shopping service Fynd.

Back at the time of launch, Ola said it has opened the in-car experience to third-party developers, however, the company's website currently doesn't list any new service for Ola Play.

Ola Play isn't a new approach, as Uber itself has partnered with Spotify to offer music streaming in some regions. But Ola's offering isn't limited to music. Also, Uber currently doesn't offer its infotainment system in India.

Topics Uber

Mashable Image
Manish Singh

Manish Singh was a Mashable's senior correspondent in India. He has previously freelanced with CNET, NDTV Gadgets, BGR India, and MediaNama.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Top tech jobs 2026: 5 of the fastest-growing tech, AI careers
5 fast-growing tech jobs in 2026





Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 4, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 4, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!