Google Maps locates vaccination centers 1:10
New York (CNN Business) -
Google Maps can now tell you which train to take or chart an optimal driving route.
Now, it's making travel even simpler by letting users pay for parking or public transportation directly from their phones.
Starting Wednesday, users can connect their Google Maps accounts with their Google Pay wallets and make transportation-related payments without leaving the app.
By avoiding parking meters and train ticket vending machines, people can save time and also avoid touching public surfaces, an advantage during the pandemic.
The new features are just the latest update to Google Maps, which aims to become more than just a place to find directions.
In December, for example, Google added the ability for verified businesses to message customers directly through the app, as more businesses rely on digital interactions to drive sales.
The app also added a feature in September that shows the prevalence of the coronavirus in a certain area.
What Google Maps offers
"From booking a yoga class online to ordering take-out at your favorite restaurant, Google Maps is a powerful companion that lets you get things done throughout the day," the company said in a blog post Wednesday.
For parking, the company has partnered with two technology providers, Passport and ParkMobile, which will link Google Maps with on-street parking meters.
When people use Google Maps to navigate to a destination, the app will automatically ask them to "pay for parking."
They can then enter their meter number, the amount of time they want to park, and hit "pay."
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The new pay-per-parking feature will also allow users to extend the time at their parking meter remotely.
Check out four new things you can do with Google Maps
For users who depend on public transport, Google says it is expanding the ability to pay fares through the app: it will now connect to more than 80 transit agencies around the world.
As users plan their trip, Google Maps will show them how to pay for their trip and allow them to pay in advance using a credit or debit card stored in their Google Pay wallet.
That way, when they get to the station, they can hit the road without having to pull out their wallets or switch to another app.
"Once you've bought your ticket, all you need to do is tap your phone on the reader or show your digital ticket to get on board," Google said.
While many people still spend a lot of time at home due to the pandemic, these features will likely come in handy as more people get vaccinated and the reopening continues.
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