Uber Introducing Phone Number 'Anonymization' Software

Uber said it's introducing "phone anonymization" software to mask the phone numbers of Uber users and drivers when a user requests a ride. "Drivers will ALWAYS see the same number," Uber Marketing Manager Ross Fitzgerald said in a Wednesday blog post. Uber technology will connect riders and drivers as normal without displaying real numbers, Uber said. Riders and drivers won't be able to send text messages and a driver won't be able to call a rider "shortly" after a trip ends, Uber said. "This way, both riders and drivers will be unable to store personal cell phone numbers," Fitzgerald said.