Now you can use Google Maps on your cellphone for live traffic information.
Google is today releasing a traffic information feature for Google Maps on mobile devices. A downloadable Java application, features live traffic updates and the ability to save favorite locations and driving directions.
Phone users will also be able to customize the content that appears on the mobile version of their Google Personalized Homepage.
To download Google Maps for mobile, visit google.com/gmm from your phone’s web browser. Mobile phone users who have the current version of Google Maps installed on their phone will receive an automatic notification to upgrade.
When you enter a route on Google Maps, it will now display color-coded, regularly-updated traffic information. A green route means you can zip along, yellow means you might be sharing that road with a significant number of like-minded cars, and red means it’s heavy going.
Google Maps will estimate the drive time to your destination, considering traffic conditions.
Traffic information is available for about 30 major U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. It is pulled from a variety of sources, the company said. Partial information is offered in other U.S. locations.
Google Maps works with most Java-enabled (J2ME) mobile phones offered by Cingular and Sprint, and all color BlackBerry devices regardless of carrier. At this time, Google Maps doesn’t work with Nextel, T-Mobile USA or BREW-enabled phones (e.g. Verizon, Alltel, U.S. Cellular), or Palm devices.
The version for PCs doesn’t support updated traffic information yet, but the Mountain View, California-based company said that feature is on its way. Yahoo is currently offers a map service with traffic updates, but only on PCs.
Meanwhile, Windows Live Local from Microsoft added real-time traffic info about two months ago. Mobile Access to Info: See The Traffic from Search Engine Watch has some tips on seeing real-time traffic via the TrafficLand web site, which has expanded to cover more cities.
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