You can now request Uber rides from within Google Maps

folarin okunola

March 22, 2016 3:12 PM

When you look up transit directions for any location within Google Maps, you can find an option to take an Uber to your destination.

The new Uber wordmark

If you have an Uber app on your phone, or whatever device you use to request rides, you can now get a cab from within Google Maps (iOS or Android).

According to TechCabal, when you look up transit directions for any location within Google Maps, you can find an option to take an Uber to your destination.

After entering your destination and going to the taxi/transit tab on the far right, you will see the Uber integration.

Once you tap on it, you will be deep linked into the Uber app with your location/destination carried over, according to TechCabal senior editor, Osarumen Osamuyi, who tested the feature.

READ: Tech company launches new "Family Profile" feature

It’s a very cool feature if you ask me. If you want to go somewhere and you don't know how to get there, you can not only look it up in Google Maps, you can also hail a cab to get you there.

You will even get time and fare estimates from the Google Maps end before you even get to the deep link into the Uber part. Super dope!

TechCabal says the feature was only available in a few cities around the world before now and considering that Uber is one of Google Ventures' portfolio companies - it invested $258 million in Uber back in late 2013 - it all makes sense.

As for competitors, I don't know what they are going to do or who they are going to talk to, especially since Google owns the two largest search engines in the world. We wait.

folarin okunola