Google used its Map-oriented event to announce that it will bring offline map access to Google Maps for Android. The demo showed how an Android owner could download the full map of London before travelling out into the city. The offline map access will provide street-detail coverage when a user is in an area without cellular data service. City-dwellers will appreciate being able to use Maps when underground on the subway, while rural residents won’t have to worry about getting lost on that little-known mountain pass.
Google didn’t say when the new feature will hit Android phones and tablets, but you can get a sneak peek of it in the Labs section of Google Maps. There’s a “pre-cache map area” option that’ll download maps to your handset and store them locally.
[Via Google]