Photo: Google
The lack of a physical address has long been an issue for so many people, and this is just because they live on streets that don’t have a name or can’t be located on services like Google Maps.
The Mountain View-based search giant knows this very well, and while the Google Maps coverage has continuously expanded all over the world, the lack of an address continues to be a problem.
The most recent Google Maps update, however, introduces a new approach that could help deal with this.
It’s all based on Plus Codes, which have been around since 2015 but are now a lot easier to use in Google Maps. And it’s all because they could help uniquely identify a specific location for whatever you need, be they emergency services or shipping products to your door.
How the whole thing works is pretty simple in the up-to-date Google Maps. Just tap the blue dot that shows up when marking your current location and then you should see a Plus code that can be shared with others. The six-digit plus code can be then used in Google Maps and other services to find out the exact location that it points to. In other words, they are fully searchable on Google Maps and Google Search.
Plus Codes also come with another benefit. They are available offline and they can be used pretty much everywhere to point to an address, including in ads or posters.
“A Plus Code is a simple alphanumeric code which can be combined with a locality (for example: FWM8+V9, Ibadan, Nigeria). They look like a regular address, but with a short code where a street name or number would be. Beyond using the blue dot, you can also find the Plus Code for a location by tapping and holding the map to drop a pin at a location you want a Plus Code for,” Google explains.
Google says Plus Codes are now available in the Android version of Google Maps, with the rollout currently under way for all users.
The most recent Google Maps update, however, introduces a new approach that could help deal with this.
It’s all based on Plus Codes, which have been around since 2015 but are now a lot easier to use in Google Maps. And it’s all because they could help uniquely identify a specific location for whatever you need, be they emergency services or shipping products to your door.
How the whole thing works is pretty simple in the up-to-date Google Maps. Just tap the blue dot that shows up when marking your current location and then you should see a Plus code that can be shared with others. The six-digit plus code can be then used in Google Maps and other services to find out the exact location that it points to. In other words, they are fully searchable on Google Maps and Google Search.
Plus Codes also come with another benefit. They are available offline and they can be used pretty much everywhere to point to an address, including in ads or posters.
“A Plus Code is a simple alphanumeric code which can be combined with a locality (for example: FWM8+V9, Ibadan, Nigeria). They look like a regular address, but with a short code where a street name or number would be. Beyond using the blue dot, you can also find the Plus Code for a location by tapping and holding the map to drop a pin at a location you want a Plus Code for,” Google explains.
Google says Plus Codes are now available in the Android version of Google Maps, with the rollout currently under way for all users.
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