Mobile ads find their way to Google Maps for iOS and Android

Ads are prevalent and all but unavoidable online these days, and in a bid to keep software free and fund development, in-app advertisements are increasingly common.

The latest kid to the party is Google Maps for iOS and Android. Perform a search for a restaurant, coffee shop, or other establishment, and you may well find that the bottom of your mobile is adorned with an ad for a related business.

The AdWords-powered addition sees the arrival of advertisements that feature the names and ad text for a, hopefully, relevant business.

Tapping through reveals the address, contact details and directions.

There's no way to opt out of the ad service, but if you're looking for a particular type of establishment and the adverts are related, this is one example of advertising that could prove genuinely useful.