With Google Maps, you can now pay for parking and transportation without leaving the app

With Google Maps, you can now pay for parking and transportation without leaving the app

by
From Wednesday, users can Google (GOOG) Card accounts with their Google Pay wallets and pay transportation-related payments without ever leaving the app. Bypassing parking meters and train ticket machines, people can save time and also not touch public areas – a plus during the pandemic.
The new features are just the latest update from 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 send customers directly through the app, as more companies rely on digital interactions to drive sales. The app also added a feature in September that shows how common the coronavirus is in a given area.
“From online yoga class to ordering your favorite restaurant – Google Maps is a powerful attendee with which you can perform tasks throughout the day,” the company said in a Wednesday blog post.

For parking, the company has partnered with two technology providers – Passport and ParkMobile – that will connect 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’. They can then enter their meter number, the amount of time they want to park, enter and ‘pay’.

New features in Google Maps let users pay for parking and public transportation directly from the app.

With the new pay for parking feature, users can also extend the time on their remote parking meter.

For users who rely on public transportation, Google says it’s increasing the ability to pay for transportation through the app: it’s now joining more than 80 transportation agencies around the world. While users plan their trip, Google Maps will show them how to pay for their trip and have them do so in advance with a credit or debit card stored in their Google Pay wallet. That way, they can be on their way without pulling out their wallet or switching to another app when they arrive at the station.

“After you purchase your rate, all you have to do is type your phone into the browser or show your digital ticket on board,” Google said.

Although many people still spend a lot of time at home due to the pandemic, these features are likely to come in handy as more people are vaccinated and the reopening continues.

.Source