Google has released an update of its map services, which will bring some features of its desktop version to the mobile. The update is platform independent. Hence, Google Maps can now be accessed by all devices irrespective of the operating system such as iOS, Android, Bada, and Symbian. "You will always get a consistent experience and the latest features without needing to install any updates, no matter what phone you use," a Google blog post said.
To use it, the users first need to share their location with Google. With Google Maps, users can find out their current locations, nearby attractions as well as addresses of desired businesses. They can also see photographs and reviews of different places submitted by other users.
Out of all Google Maps searches, about 40 per cent are conducted on mobile devices. On weekends, about half of the searches come from smartphones.
Google expects the smartphone searches to lead over the desktops by June this year. The Google vice president Marissa Mayer has also said the same at the Tech Crunch Disrupt conference sometime back.
She said that the Google Maps app is now present in about 200 million mobile devices and is used by people who want to get oriented with their surroundings and be informed about the directions where they wish to reach.
People used Google Maps services earlier also on desktops, but most of the activity has now shifted to mobile phones and tablets, which will help them as they need maps more when they are on the move.
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