FROM FRIDAY August 5, Panama’s Uber  customers will have the choice  of paying with cash or credit card.

The  update to the system will be introduced  because "many users do not have access to a credit card or debit card and, therefore, wish to have other payment options," says a  statement from the company

The cash  option will be done through a pilot program from  Uber users who have been chosen randomly, the company said.

"All they have to do is change their  payment method from the application."

Within the Uber app the user must go to the option of 'pay', on the  menu, then choose the 'cash' option and finally ask for the shuttle service.

Once the user reaches the destination the amount shown on the app is shown to the driver.

According to the company, all security features will be present before, during and after each trip, including the option to share the journey and qualify the driver and leave comments about the trip.

Uber, founded in 2009 in San Francisco, is a technology company that has a presence in 491 cities in over 70 countries.