Huawei’s Petal Maps 2.0 Adds “Lane Guidance” and “Offline Map” Features to Help Users Save Time and Explore the World Safely
Huawei’s Petal Maps app today announced the release of its version 2.0 update, adding a set of powerful new features that help improve the browsing experience. These useful improvements include “Lane guidance“, a feature that helps users identify and navigate complex road and traffic scenarios as well as “Offline map” function, which allows Petal Maps to be used with limited internet access. In addition, the app has also received a redesigned user interface and has integrated a gamification system that rewards users for using the app.
The rollout of Petal Maps 2.0 also marks the celebration of the map and navigation app 1st birthday. Developed by Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), launched in October 2020 in APAC, Petal Maps was designed to deliver innovative travel and navigation experiences, following the brand’s mantra of offering users “a new way to explore the world”.
Since its release, the app has grown to serve over 20 million users in over 160 countries, offering features such as location searches, detailed navigation, and real-time traffic updates. Within a year, the app received new additions like a head-up display (HUD) that projects navigation information onto the car’s windshield, and other features such as scheduling. ‘routes for walks, bike rides and public transport.
Lane guidance
The latest Petal Maps 2.0 update continues this growth path with innovative technologies such as the new “Lane Guidance”. This feature uses location-based intelligence to identify complex road scenarios such as upcoming turns, city interchanges and roundabout exits to navigate difficult traffic situations.
Now users will be able to see arrows on their screen to help them choose the right lanes in road environments such as turns, forks and ramps. The guide activates before the vehicle approaches turns or exits, displaying an enlarged lane-level visual to help the driver find and stay on track. With this feature, Petal Maps gives users greater peace of mind behind the wheel by helping them make better and safer decisions.
Offline maps
Petal Maps 2.0 is also equipped with “offline maps”, a new feature that allows users to continue using the navigation functions on the map even with a weak or no internet signal. Users can download in advance the offline map of the cities they wish to visit and access the map data and routes independently of the Internet connection. With this feature, users don’t have to worry about losing their network connection while browsing. This feature can also be useful for users with limited data plans who want to save on network charges such as international roaming charges. Offline maps are now available in Malaysia, Philippines Singapore and Thailand, and will be phased in in other APAC markets.
Interactive features
Additionally, Petal Maps has been updated with a new User Interface (UI) to provide an improved, enjoyable and interactive browsing experience. The new UI design uses lighter, more vivid colors and deep rendering applied to map elements such as buildings and trees. The enhanced contrast makes each card symbol more recognizable and adds an aesthetic dimension to the visuals of the app.
Petal Maps 2.0 also offers a brand new tiered membership program, which provides medals, points and achievements based on rewards when users engage with the app. For example, users can earn points by accumulating time spent using the app on the road and earn contribution points by reporting road conditions such as traffic jams. These points can be used to earn medals and achievements.