Google Maps: Coming to a US Gas Pump Near You

It appears that Google is trying to outdo itself as the company that brings you new innovations on a daily basis. Yesterday, we had the big Android gPhone announcement and today, Google has announced plans to include its Google Maps feature on gas pumps in your neighborhood.

Are you one of those people that hates to ask for directions? Well, now you won’t have to stifle your stubbornness. Surprise your traveling partner with your innate knowledge of every Holiday Inn and International House of Pancakes this side of the Mississippi. Beginning in early December, thousands of your favorite gas stations will utilize pumps designed by Gilbarco Veeder-Root. The designer pumps will include Google Maps on a small color LCD screen where you can sift through selections made by the gas station owner of his or her favorite local landmarks, hotels, restaurants and hospitals.

In addition to the helpful screen information, you will also get a printout to help you along your way. The initial project does not include an option for motorists to specifically type in what they are looking for, but Gilbarco Veeder-Root has plans for customization in the future. As of this writing, the Google company is not planning on including any of their ubiquitous ads with the new gas-pump-map scenario, but the retailers involved in the project will make a profit via coupons offered for the specified locations. Karen Roter Davis, a principal business development manager for Google, sums up the project’s intentions for the projected user, “This will be sort of a Googley, more stealthy way of getting directions.”

[CrunchGear via AP]

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 at 7:23 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.