Google brings offline search maps for Android devices

Besides announcing several OS updates and features with Android M at the Google I/O 2015 keynote event, Google also said it would soon bring offline search to its Google Maps app.

The app would also feature complete voice-based turn-by-turn navigation when in offline mode.

Both features would be made available sometime later this year.

The new offline features announced for Google Maps were aimed mostly for "emerging markets" with spotty mobile internet coverage and where data charges were expensive, as navigation via GPS was independent of mobile networks.

Google had, in the past introduced offline rerouting during navigation, which would reroute users even when they lost their connection while navigating.

Now, the entire process of navigation could be done offline. The offline features were also useful for those users travelling to less-connected spots.

The features would also come handy for those who were searching for directions when travelling in underground metros or via flight.

With the offline search feature, users would be able to search for places and points of interest, with results including autocomplete suggestions as also reviews, contact numbers, opening hours and other information.

The Google I/O 2015 keynote event saw the feature being demonstrated on a handset on airplane mode and it seemed to work seamlessly.

A streamlined approach for offline support is used for YouTube and websites on Chrome. YouTube's feature, a simple archiving tool allows users to save videos for offline viewing for up to two days.

The YouTube Offline feature would be available on all Androids with version 4.4 and higher in the near future.

Google Maps would have an offline mode and users would be getting offline data for places along with chosen route, like reviews of locations and open hours.

The users would also get turn-by-turn directions along the way. Offline Maps would come to` users "later this year."

Google also unveiled the next version of its Android operating system Android 'M', the next iteration of Google's mobile OS that would succeed Android Lollipop when it launches later this year.

Google aimed to provide Android users with what they needed at the precise moment they needed it.