Google Maps Integration With Uber Goes Live in India

Google Maps integration for the Uber app, which was unveiled in US and other markets last year, has now been rolled out in India. The integration shows Uber as a travel option to Google Maps users on iPhone and Android trying to find the best way to get between two points. If the Uber app is installed on the phone, the Google Maps app will show an estimated UberX pickup time, fare, and travel time to their destination when searching for transit or walking directions.

If users find the estimated UberX fares and times to their destination appealing, they can tap the Uber card in Google Maps, and be taken directly to the Uber app to complete the booking.

Notably, neither company has announced the India rollout, though the official @Uber_Delhi Twitter handle did acknowledge the feature is live with a tweet late last week.

Uber in November last year said the feature had been rolled out to 30 cities globally. The company had then said, "You will see the option to Uber at the bottom of the screen when you select either the transit or walking options [in Google Maps]. This update makes it more obvious when Uber is the clear choice to get to your destination-whether we're saving you time with our short pickup and transit times, or offering an affordable price for your ride."

Uber on Wednesday in India also rolled out the promised additional safety features in its app, specifically, the Send Status feature that shares ride details with up to five preselected contacts - including real time GPS tracking, driver photo, name and vehicle license number, as well as the SOS button, which if pressed in the case of an emergency automatically dials local authorities. For now, both these features have only been rolled out for the Android app, and iPhone users have been promised the features are coming soon.