Google Maps have added some new features to it for improving the address search and navigation in India. It’s difficult to locate an address in India especially if it has no proper street names and house numbers. This can adversely affect traffic, navigation and of course the daily life. Google Maps have been constantly trying to improve and solve such challenges.
Plus Codes – Addresses For Everyone
If you don’t have a well-defined address, then this Plus Codes can act as a simple alternative. The Plus Codes are similar to a telephone number eg: 7JVW52GR+2V and can be shortened to 4-6 digits when combined with locality eg: 52GR+2V Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. The system divides a geographical surface of the Earth into tiny ‘tiled areas’, and attributes a code to each of them.
You can easily generate, share and search this with Google Maps on a phone or plus.codes. This code can provide a simple and consistent addressing system for permanent, temporary, or emergency purposes across the globe. Moreover, the open source nature of this system makes it easier for integrating into applications that use locations services.
Add Missing Address to Google Maps
In another update, Google has made it easy for users to add a missing address to the Google Map. You can now add missing addresses just like adding a missing business. However, you should make sure not to include people or other personal details while adding an address. Download the latest Google Maps for adding a missing address. Once your submission is validated, it gets published and you will also be rewarded with Local Guide points.
Using Smart Address Search with Google Maps
In the Indian context, an address is sometimes complex, unique or varied and Google Map Search couldn’t understand it until now. So to solve this, they have introduced an innovative approach which uses a nearby landmark, business or a locality for getting you to the destination. From now on, if you enter a normal address on Google Maps, it will try to use all the pieces of information in that address. The map will then provide options for landmarks and points of interest that can easily be identified during navigation.
Additional Languages For Voice Navigation
Google has been constantly receiving requests to add more local languages to voice-guided navigation since the addition of Hindi navigation. So, along with the other updates, they have added six additional India languages viz Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam to voice selection in navigation settings. However, maps probably won’t speak out street names in voices other than English.