In order to better serve its mobile customers and compete with the likes of Yelp and Foursquare in the mobile and local market, Google Maps is in the process of rolling out a new series of features.
Over the next few days, users will see a change in design and functionality.
Google is doing what it does best, which is taking simple features and packaging them in a way that creates a great user experience. What are some of these new features?
Planning an Adventure
Google Maps has been traditionally used to help people get from point A to point B. In September of this year, Google announced an upgrade to its desktop version, which began to allow users to plan trips and create their own “map” of must-sees.
Now, mobile users can gain instant access to images, reviews, ratings, and more for a particular location.
Feeding Your Belly
Maybe you’re in a strange city, want to try a new local place, or need to impress some important clients. No matter the situation, Google Maps’ new restaurant integration feature can help make the process a little easier.
If a restaurant utilizes OpenTable for reservations, users can now “find a table” right from the Google Maps app. You are also provided access to a review summary of the restaurant as well as detailed reviews from visitors.
Hitching a Ride
Our winters in Minnesota are undeniably arctic. What may have been a nice stroll during the summer turns into what seems like a daylong frostbitten excursion.
So for the poor souls that do not live in a warm winter climate, Google Maps has added integration with Uber. The option for Uber will only appear if the user already has the car service application installed on their phone.
Google Maps will display a pickup time as well as estimated price based on location.
