You can now book an Uber or Ola cab in India with Google search

Next time you want to book a cab in India with Uber and Ola — and also compare their fares — just make a Google search.  

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Google announced today that it is making it easier for Indians to book a cab on the two ride-hailing services. Users can get a cab to any place by just making a Google search about it with their phone. 

Searching for "Taxi to Noida" on Google, for instance, now includes an option to book a cab with Ola and Uber. The page also includes the estimated fare as well as estimated pick up time with distance and traffic details. One can also search for "Ola to Noida", or "Uber to Gurgaon", in case one prefers one brand over the other.

However, a user needs to have Uber or Ola app on their phone to make use of this feature as that’s where they are directed to from Google search. In case one doesn’t have the concerned app installed, Google search page instead directs them to the Play Store listing for that app. The feature was also made available in Google Maps earlier this year.  

Image: Manish Singh / mashable

Google says it has worked with Ola and Uber to make this option available. The feature illustrates how both the companies are increasingly trying to make it easier for people to get a cab. 

Earlier this month, Ola announced that users on its platform can book a cab even when they don’t have a working data connection. Through this, when a user is on a spotty network, the app asks them if they would like to use SMSs to book the cab. 

Uber has also made efforts to made it easier for people in India to book a cab. In August, the company announced that people can book a cab on its platform through the mobile website without downloading the app. It also announced a feature that lets people book a cab for their friends. 

“Choosing the best transit option can be a task at times, our aim is to help users simplify their everyday travel. With this, users will be able to order, explore and make quick comparisons about the best estimated taxi fare directly from Google Search results on their mobile,” said Sanket Gupta, Program Manager, Google.