Google Maps Adds Uber Alternatives Lyft And Gett As Ride Hailing Options In US

Ride hailing options on Google Maps in the United States now include Lyft and Gett too, apps that are seen as Uber alternatives, as per a new announcement. The new development also implies that Google Maps is now one of the leading rides booking mobile apps, primarily due to its estimation of fares and waiting times for all the services at the touch of a button.

"Say you're looking to get from the High Line to Times Square in Manhattan. When typing these locations into the Google Maps app, you will see a ride services tab appear alongside driving, transit and walking directions", said Sara Torti, senior product manager of Google Maps. "Just tap the icon and you will find fare estimates and pick up times from multiple ride service partners, depending on driver availability". Torti also added that the app will show certain services of each partner, and that the Lyft line can be accessed through it.

Google Maps had launched these features for Uber in 2014 however, as per a report, Uber could be developing its own map system with a $500 million investment, which implies that it could soon stop depending on Google Maps, if all goes according to its plan. For now, the updates for Lyft and Gett are live on both iOS and Android versions of Google Maps. Incidentally, Lyft is becoming more available across various locations spread out in the US, whereas Gett is still centric to New York City at the moment.

With the new additions, Google Maps is going to make the life of commuters, who bank on ride hailing apps on a daily basis, easier. The addition of Lyft and Gett will also be beneficial because users can choose the most cost effective ride sharing option. Google Maps will be displaying the pricing of the different companies side by side, which also implies that in the future, competing companies may be forced to rethink their prices, leading to overall lower prices.