Skip to main content

Google Maps gets more ride-sharing options, though it depends where you are

google local guides update maps
Twin Design/Shutterstock
Google continues to tweak its Maps app for iOS – a new update rolled out on Wednesday introduces a few new features and enhancements, some of which landed on the Android Maps app just last week.

The app has included Uber integration for the last couple of years, but a new dedicated ride-sharing tab in the form of a taxi icon offers information on other available ride-sharing services and trip prices if you have their apps installed – and live in the right place.

Recommended Videos

You’ll find the new tab alongside the existing car, transit, and walking tabs that appear when you hit the Directions button at the bottom right of the display.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The ride-sharing services newly incorporated into Google Maps include Gett for the U.K.; Hailo for the U.K., Ireland, Spain, Singapore, and Japan; Mytaxi for Germany, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, and Poland; 99Taxis for Brazil; and Ola for India.

Tap on the taxi tab to bring up information on estimated fares and how close the cars are in minutes. So whereas Google Maps up to now only featured Uber for London-based riders, those with the Gett and Hailo apps installed can now also check details for all three firms. Tap on the best deal and you’ll be taken to the app to hail the ride.

Having the extra competition within Google Maps might not be so great for Uber, but for the Mountain Company it could mean more Maps usage as users hit the app to find the best deal. All we want now is for the feature to include more locations and a greater choice of ride-sharing services.

Another feature, and this one lands for U.S. users too, lets you see price details for services with multiple options. For example, Uber riders will be able to compare details for uberX, uberXL, and UberBLACK.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
The Google Wallet app is about to get a lot more useful
The new Google Wallet app running on an Android phone.

The Google Wallet app for Android is getting a new feature called "Everything Else," which will make it easier to add digital passes. This feature was first announced at Google I/O in May and is expected to be available to all Google Wallet customers in the U.S. by the end of the month. It's currently being rolled out to customers.

Everything Else is replacing Google Wallet's "Photo" option. The feature lets you scan a physical card using your phone's camera. Once you do, artificial intelligence determines what type of card you're scanning. When you take a photo of your physical card, Google will extract the information it can, then let you edit standard fields and add your own.

Read more
Google Gemini is about to get a lot more useful on your Android phone
Google Gemini app on the Motorola Razr Plus 2024.

Google isn’t planning on hitting the breaks on Gemini anytime soon. After first teasing a number of new extensions during Google I/O 2024, a recent APK teardown from Android Authority has revealed a ton of unannounced, useful new features from Gemini that are soon coming to your Android phone. Gemini is expected to get a variety of new extensions that will allow integration into Google services like Keep, Tasks, and Calendar.

Each of the extensions seems to provide useful features, and Android Authority has demo videos showcasing each. With Google Keep, you can now ask Gemini to create new notes and lists, add information to notes, and add or remove items from lists. Google Tasks now lets you use Gemini to create new tasks, including reminders. It’ll also allow you to view existing tasks and show their due dates.

Read more
Google Maps is getting 2 helpful new features. Here’s how they work
Google Maps running on a Pixel 8 Pro, showing the new colors as of November 2023.

Google Maps is getting some useful new features that should significantly improve navigation. This follows a major redesign that Google unveiled during Google I/O 2024 that showcased a cleaner home screen, new pin colors, and a more simplified interface with three new tabs rather than five.

In this case, there are actually two sets of updates: one for Google Maps and another for Waze, which, in case you weren’t aware, is also owned by Google. Starting with Google Maps, users will now get additional guidance on entering buildings and where to park when driving.

Read more