UberRUSH opens delivery API to all developers
On Thursday Uber opened the UberRUSH API to any and all developers, meaning that the API can be imported into any application that wants it. UberRUSH is Uber’s delivery business which was launched last year, and relies on a network of car and bike couriers to handle delivery of pre-paid goods. With the release of the API any retailer, restaurant, or really any business that uses a delivery service, can now offer customers in UberRUSH cities (currently San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City), the convenience of same-day deliveries from within their own app. According to Uber: "Now anyone can build on-demand delivery right into an existing business – or dream up something completely new… The UberRUSH API means the logistics headache is over and the possibilities are endless…”

UberRush, the ride-hail company's express delivery service, is now publicly available to any business that wants to integrate the service's API (application program interface) in their digital products. Last January, Uber announced it would offer Rush's API to certain businesses in a private beta, but now the service's API is publicly available to anyone who wants to include a delivery option in their app.

Some of the businesses that started using UberRush during the beta period include the department store Nordstrom, 1800flowers, and Google Express. Uber says that integrating Rush's API "acts as a simple solution for companies looking to build or streamline last-mile logistics."

"a simple solution for companies looking to build or streamline last-mile logistics"

UberRush started as a bike courier service in Manhattan. It launched officially last October in just three cities — New York, Chicago, and San Francisco — where it competes with services like Postmates, delivering items like groceries, take-out food, and house supplies. Couriers for UberRush can also moonlight for UberX, but they must receive special training to work for the delivery service.

It's an extension of Uber's broader plan to encourage app developers to deep link to the car-hailing app's core service — and a less-than-subtle way to place one of its branded products within a variety of third-party apps.