Google Maps does more than just show you how to get to and from places. Maps has also introduced a slew of new features designed to help you communicate your location and even how much battery your phone has left with the people you’re going to meet. Google has now announced an extension to its useful “Estimated Time of Arrival” broadcasting feature.
Latest Google maps update allows users to share their ETA across third-party apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Line
The idea behind Google’s latest update to Maps is to take the stress out of keeping people updated about your journey’s progress. This is particularly important if you’re driving. Google wants you to keep your loved ones updated in a way that allows you to “keep your hands off your phone and your eyes on the road.” To make sure you can do this with as many people as possible, Google is opening up its ETA sharing tool to other apps. This means you’ll now be able to share your ETA with WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger users, as well as users of other messaging apps like Line.
This new feature broadcasts the navigation route you are following. This means if you want to give people a live update of your ETA, you need to be following a Google Maps Navigation route. It isn’t limited to driving, however, and the improved journey sharing feature is available for driving, cycling, and walking navigation routes.
How to share your ETA on Google Maps
Once you’ve started navigating using Google Maps, you need to hit the ^ button. This will bring up the option to “Share trip progress.” Here you’ll find the option to share your ETA with either your contacts or across other messaging platforms.
This new ETA sharing function is different from sharing your live location as it stops sharing your location as soon as you reach your destination. If you simply share your live location, you do so for a set amount of time rather than until you reach where you’re going to.
This new journey sharing feature is already available via the latest version of Google Maps for both Android and iOS. To start using it make sure you’ve downloaded and installed the most recent update for Google Maps.
