Google Maps for iOS adds taxi services to route options

Less than a month after its last update, Google has rolled out Google Maps for iOS 4.17. The big news here is the addition of taxi services when comparing route options for six countries, including the US, UK and India.

Supported taxi services include Uber, plus 99Taxis (Brazil), Ola Cabs (India), Hailo (UK and Spain), mytaxi (Germany and Spain), and Gett (UK).

The service requires the taxi provider’s app be installed and configured on the user’s phone or tablet -- once done, should nearby taxi services from that provider be available, they’ll appear on a new tab, providing users with estimated arrival times and fares. Users then simply tap a fare to switch to the provider’s app to complete the booking.

The update also makes it possible to save driving, walking and biking route options for future use. This feature is enabled by default -- to switch this off (and tweak the available options), click the ≡ button next to the From box and choose "Route Options".

One final improvement sees Google Maps make saved and recently accessed maps available to Spotlight searches. Tapping the result whisks users off to the location in the app.

The update is rounded off with the usual unspecified bug fixes. Google Maps for iOS 4.17.0 is available now for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch running iOS 7.0 or later, plus the Apple Watch.