Facebook Messenger lets users call Uber cars

Facebook on Wednesday announced an alliance with Uber that lets people summon cars from the ride sharing service using the Messenger smartphone application.

The partnership was a major move for both California firms, further expanding Facebook's stand-alone messaging service beyond simply communicating and putting Uber in a social network-backed application with some 700 million users.

"With this new feature, you can request a ride from a car service without ever needing to download an extra app or leave a conversation," product manager Seth Rosenberg said in a blog post.

"It's super easy and doesn't take you away from the plans that you're making with your friends or family."

Uber was described as the first partner in the launch of "transportation on Messenger," leaving the door open to add Uber rivals as options for users of the smartphone messaging service.

Uber is making its Messenger debut in the United States in the latest version of the application. Rosenberg promised that more countries and partners would be soon added.

People can access the feature by tapping a "transportation" menu tab or can enter Uber as a search query, according to Facebook.

Updates on the status of drivers will be delivered in Messenger, and friends can be notified that a ride has been summoned.

"With the ability to request, track and pay for a ride in Messenger, we're making transportation as simple as sending a message," Rosenberg said.