Google Maps gets offline naviagation and search features

Google has introduced offline navigation and search features to it mapping service, Google Maps. Users can now download maps of specific areas of the cities or states and save them on their phone.

You've had the ability to download and use Google Maps offline for a while now, but this is the first time Google will offer features like turn-by-turn navigation, search for specific destinations, and find useful information about places, like hours of operation, contact information or ratings.

Users can download an area by searching for a city or a country and tap 'Download' on the resulting place sheet, or go to 'Offline Areas' in the Google Maps menu and tap on the '+' button. After downloading, Google Maps will be available offline automatically when it recognizes you are in a location with no connectivity or slow service. When your smartphone is connected back to a good network, the app will automatically go online and offer other Maps features like live traffic updates for your current routes and more. 

Google says that by default it will only download areas to your device when you are on a Wi-Fi connection and not mobile data to prevent large data fees.

The latest offline navigation and search feature is available for Android and will soon come to iOS.