by Jennifer Johnson



FIRST THINGS FIRST

Before any map or directional assistance can be useful, you must determine your current location. Because you’ll be focusing on your phone (and not on the road) while attempting to find directions, you’ll want to pull off the road. Instead of pulling off on the side of the road, you may want to turn in to a gas station or shopping area. Not only are these areas safer than the side of the road, they also have designated addresses, so you’ll have a clearly defined starting point. Plus, a gas station attendant or other clerk can tell you the address of your location.

If you’d rather not ask someone about your current location, or if you’re in heavy traffic or another place where it’s not possible to do so, use the My Location feature from Google Maps (free; maps.google.com). Currently in beta, this feature works even if your phone doesn’t have integrated GPS by using information from nearby cellular towers to approximate your location. Although not as exact as GPS, this feature can give you a good feel for where you are. My Location is available for many Web-enabled phones running on a variety of platforms, including Java, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Nokia devices.

To use My Location, open the Web browser on your phone and navigate to www.google.com/gmm. Next, click the link to Download Google Maps and proceed through any security messages that ask if you want to download and install the file. Once the application has installed, go to your phone’s program list and open Google Maps. The first time you run this application, you’ll need to accept the Terms And Conditions.

Once Google Maps is running on your phone, press 0 (zero) to center the map on your approximate location. If your phone has GPS, you’ll see a blue dot corresponding to your location. If your phone does not have GPS, or if a GPS signal is unavailable, you’ll see the blue dot surrounded by a light blue circle that indicates uncertainty regarding your location.



PLAN B

Times like these call for Plan B. You could call a friend or AAA, but if you aren’t a AAA member and your friends live in another city, a phone call may not be very useful. A good old-fashioned map would also come in handy in times like these, but many of us have traded our maps for GPS devices and left the paper instructions at home.

Thankfully, you can access maps using your Internet-enabled cell phone. Perhaps better yet, mobile mapping applications have advanced beyond simple maps to provide much more information than just directions from Point A to Point B; these applications now provide similar functionality as your navigation device, with point of interest information and location finders. Regardless of whether you need directions or wish to find a nearby coffee shop, your Internet-enabled cell phone can help you recover from GPS failure and get back on track quickly. Keep in mind that Internet mapping services may require a large amount of bandwidth; if you’re on a limited data plan, you may want to use the mapping features sparingly. That said, convenience is worth something, especially when you’re in a bind and need to get to your destination.



FIND A ROUTE

After you’ve approximated your location using Google Maps’ My Location feature, you’re ready to find directions to your destination. To use Google Maps to find a route to your destination, select Menu and then choose Directions. There are many ways to enter your Starting position: You can enter the location that you found using My Location, choose Select Point On Map and use the My Location feature or choose Current GPS Location. These options will vary from one phone to the next.

Next, enter your End Point or End Address. You can enter an address, airport code, ZIP code, city and state, or intersection and city into this field. After entering Start and End Addresses, Google Maps will calculate a route and display it in text form. You can then press # or select Show (depending on your phone) to view the directions in map form. In map view, your phone can guide you to your destination using turn-by-turn text instructions. The user interface varies slightly from one phone and platform to the next, so you’ll need to follow on-screen buttons and instructions to move from one step to the next. If you have a smartphone with a touchscreen, these controls may be as simple as Forward and Back arrows. For regular cell phones, use your phone’s number pad to switch between steps.



ADDITIONAL FEATURES

In addition to driving directions, Google Maps offers the ability to search for points of interest by business name, business category, airport code, address, ZIP code, and more. Like Google Maps on your computer, the mobile version offers satellite views, which can help you get oriented. Another handy feature, called Traffic, can show highway traffic speeds using different colors. By being aware of speed limits, you’re less likely to drive too fast and get a speeding ticket. In some areas, Google Maps can also display real-time traffic information.



A FINAL ALTERNATIVE

If your phone is not compatible with Google Maps, or if you prefer a different option, many mobile phone providers offer a mapping option from the Home screen of your phone’s mobile browser. MapQuest For Mobile Web (free; www.mapquest.com) is one of the popular alternatives to Google Mobile, and it’s one that you’ll see listed on many Home screens. Although MapQuest For Mobile Web doesn’t offer a feature that can help you find your current location, it does provide an easy-to-use interface to help you find directions.



YOU CAN DRIVE AWAY, BUT THAT’S NOT ALL

You’re now ready to drive to your final destination. If you have a few minutes to spare, check out the “Additional Features” section below to learn about more of the features available through the Google Maps application.