Those of you who have followed the taxi industry’s attacks on competitorstechnological innovation might find some interest in this Charlotte Observer article.

Uber, the San Francisco startup challenging taxi companies with its rideshare app, announced Thursday that it plans to expand to six more North Carolina cities.

The popular company already provides service in Charlotte and Raleigh. Starting at noon Thursday, people in Durham, Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Fayetteville and Wilmington will also be able to use their smartphones to order a ride.

Billy Guernier, Uber’s general manager of regional expansion, says the decision to expand across the state makes North Carolina a pioneer.

“Our goal here is to make it the first place where Uber isn’t just available to the city, it’s available statewide,” Guernier said.