New York, USA (CNN) – Google Maps can now tell you which train to take or which route to take to determine your optimal route. But now, the app will also simplify mobility even further by allowing users to pay for parking or public transportation directly from their phones.
Users can now link their Google Maps accounts to their Google Pay wallet and make transfer-related payments without having to leave the app. The new feature can allow users to bypass parking meters and train ticket machines, thus saving time and avoiding touching public surfaces, which is a positive thing in light of the Corona crisis.
The new features are the latest update to Google Maps, which aims to become more of a platform for providing directions.
In December, for example, Google added a feature that allows verified companies to send messages to customers directly through the app, in a move toward more companies relying on digital interactions to increase sales.
The app also added a feature in September that shows the extent of the Coronavirus spread in a specific area.
“From booking a yoga session online to ordering food from your favorite restaurant – Google Maps is a powerful side service that lets you get things done all day,” the company said in a post on Wednesday.
For the parking feature, Google has teamed up with two technology providers, Passport and Park Mobile, who will link Google Maps to street parking meters.
When people use Google Maps to navigate to a destination, the app will automatically ask them to “pay for parking”. Users can then enter the counter number for the area in which they are located, the amount of time they want to park and press the “Pay” button.
As for users who depend on public transportation, “Google” says it will expand the ability to pay transportation fares through the application, as it will now contact more than 80 transport agencies around the world. As users plan their trip, Google Maps will show them how to pay for their trip and allow them to do so in advance with a credit card saved in their Google Pay wallet.
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