Google Goes Unleaded

Can’t find the right road? Don’t have sat nav in the car? Soon you might be able to pull into a gas station and get directions directly from the pump.   Google has entered into an agreement with fuel supplier Gilbarco Veeder-Root that will bring Google Maps to the pump. The pumpswill be equipped with an Internet connection with a touchscreen display. Motorists will be able to see maps or request local information, which can then be printed out via the pump’s receiptprinter. Perhaps surprisingly, given that this is Google, no ads will be displayed.   “Getting directions at the pump is safer than using internet-enabled devices from the driver’sseat and far more reliable than just asking a stranger," said Kirsten Paust, vice president of global retail systems at Gilbarco Veeder-Root. "We believe consumers will prefer conveniencestores that deliver useful information and ultimate convenience. Retailers who use these tools will make themselves more valuable to consumers and gain the competitive edge."   The pumpswere unveiled at the 2007 NACS Show, November 7 – 9, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, and the first are expected to be deployed nextmonth.