Google Maps Gets Transit Directions on S60 and Windows Mobile
Google is definitely putting some solid work into its Mobile mapping application these days. We have a feeling it will eventually come to a point where Google makes paid navigation services obsolete (especially subscription services such as Nokia Maps) and it will likely be sooner rather than later. We can’t imagine a better native navigation candidate for Android, can you? In the meantime, new features continue to roll out at a surprising pace and the application seemingly becomes more comprehensive each day. Our last post covered Google’s voice search pilot available on certain BlackBerry devices and now Google has introduced mass transit directions on its S60 and Windows Mobile versions of Google Maps. Released yesterday, version 2.2 can be downloaded and installed by pointing your mobile browser to google.com/gmm. The version provides access to transit directions in over 50 cities around the world and surely more will follow. The usefulness of this new functionality is fairly obvious, especially for those who travel often. Mass transit had already been incorporated into the BlackBerry and Java versions of Google Maps so now we get to sit back, relax and wait to see what the mobile Maps team comes up with next.
Zach,
Stop being such a hater and tell the truth that GMaps is just trying to play catchup with Live Search. Live Search for WM is still a year ahead of Google Maps. I love the fact that I can always find the cheapest gas near my house using Live Search and it only takes two clicks. Come on Google, give us something better.
One problem with Google Maps replacing paid navigation solutions: DATA FRICKIN ROAMING!
It’s not as much of an issue in the US where you’re not gonna pay roaming fees, but in Europe, it would be prohibitively expensive to use Google for navigation outside of your home market.
In the US though, you’ve gotta deal with much lower availability of 3G so I’d hate being somewhere like say Vermont with sometimes questionable cell phone service let alone data and then not having access to navigation to get me back to civilization.
Sorry it’s local maps for me!
man that screencap looks like doodoo, yup doodoo.
google has been doing well with their mobile stuff, atleast on the BB and Apple front – atleast those are the ones where i see it.
There’s a new version of Google Maps for Blackberries available now…version 2.2.2. Released rather quietly, might I add.
i get transit directions on my Blackberry google maps too!
i love google maps