Google Maps now has a feature that allows users to access their addresses using Plus Codes, which is a first for India. Plus Codes, for the uninitiated, are open-source digital addresses that provide simple and accurate addresses for any location on the planet. Places with no formal addresses are also included in the Plus Codes. Surprisingly, the Plus Codes are based on latitude and longitude rather than street and locality names.
Talking about the new feature for Google Maps, Amanda Bishop, Product Manager, Google Maps said, “In addition to community-led efforts, we are also committed to empowering users to directly use Plus Code addresses for their daily needs. We piloted this feature in India a month ago, and are thrilled to share that over 300,000 users in India have already found their home address using Plus Codes. We are looking forward to expanding to more types of places, and are actively looking for opportunities to partner with e-commerce, logistics, and delivery companies, to scale up the experience to more people across the world. ”
Plus Codes were first introduced by Google in 2018. In a blog post, the company stated that it has been widely adopted by NGOs and governments in India. The Plus Codes are displayed as a short sequence of numbers and letters that ensure accuracy all the way to the door. Food, medicines, and parcels can be delivered to the Plus Codes addresses. Users can also share their location with friends and family without having to share exact addresses or voice instructions, which can be inconvenient.
Google has also added a ‘Saved’ tab to make it easier to retrieve, copy, and share these home addresses. The feature is currently available on Android only, and it will be launched for iOS in the coming weeks.
Google noted in the blog post that the feature was piloted in India a month ago. So far, over 300,000 users in India have already found their home addresses using Plus Codes. “We are looking forward to expanding to more types of places (beyond just ‘Home’ and ’Work’), and are actively looking for opportunities to partner with e-commerce, logistics, and delivery companies, to scale up the experience to more people across the world,” Bishop said in the blog.
