14 DAY TRIAL // Mountain View-based software giant Google has started to roll out a new flavor of its Google Maps application for Android devices, set to provide users with an updated ad experience.
The upgrade arrives shortly after the Google Maps application for Android received a new user interface, along with better navigation. It brought live traffic updates, incident reports and dynamic rerouting.
It also included a new way to discover popular local places to eat, drink, shop, play and sleep, and the new update is based exactly on this enhancement.
Now, Google Maps for Android packs local, relevant ads that are being displayed at the bottom of the phone's screen when performing a search.
Said adds will show a title and text, while also offering a link to provide users with directions, should the message interest them.
“Users can tap or swipe upward to see more information — this is a new click type known as ‘Get location details’ and results in a standard CPC charge,” Salahuddin Choudhary, product manager, Google Maps, explains in a blog post.
As soon as they click on the ad, users will receive information like the business’s address, phone number, photos, reviews and more.
Next, owners of Android devices will be able to save the details on the business for later use, or can even share them with a friend. Of course, they can also kick off navigation to that address in Google Maps.
These ads include paid clicks as well, which should help advertisers monetize their investment in them.
“Paid clicks include the initial 'get location details' click, get directions, click-to-call and clicks on the ad headline. AdWords will only charge for up to two paid clicks per ad impression. Reporting for these paid clicks can be found by segmenting reports in your account by ‘click type’,” Google explains.
The new flavor of Google Maps was released for all devices running under Android 4.0.3 and newer versions of the operating system.
You can also download Google Maps for Android from Softpedia.