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Google is adding payment features to Maps to help users who need to move around town during the pandemic. The app now allows you to manage your parking costs in over 400 US cities and freight rates at over 80 transit agencies around the world. As more people turn to their smartphones amid lockdowns for everyday essentials, including shopping and food delivery, Google says it’s another way to stay in touch. safety by avoiding direct contact with public surfaces. Of course, the updates will also come in handy when the restrictions start to lift.
Both features are powered by Google Pay and are as easy as expected. Starting today, you can pay for your parking meter from navigation in Maps through integration with on-demand mobile parking providers Parkmobile and Passport. Simply press the “Pay Parking” button that appears as you approach your destination, enter your meter number and the time you need to park and select “Pay”.
If you’re worried about running over time, you can extend your parking session with just a few more clicks. The feature is available on Android, with iOS support in the pipeline, in a host of major cities including Boston, Cincinnati, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington DC.
On the transport side, you can use Google Pay to pay your fare when you get public transport directions from Maps. You can also purchase a Clipper Card to travel in the San Francisco Bay Area. The transit update will roll out to more cities around the world on Android in the coming weeks.
The latest Google Maps updates follow a slew of features supported in the COVID-19 era, including alerts travel restrictions linked to the coronavirus and notice and seven-day averages for new virus case.
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