Now, there's an Indian edge to Google Now Cards!

08th February 2015
Now, there's  an Indian  edge to Google Now Cards!

 Search here and Now!  'Now Cards' in the Google app give you relevant information at the right time, without you having to ask for it

By V.Sudhakshina
Google Now, the location-based real-time search offering for mobiles, has been around for a while, but it is  only now that Indian service providers have  linked their apps to the  platform. 
With Google Now ‘cards’ Android and select iOS users  can hand-pick the alerts they want to receive – from morning workouts to traffic updates on frequently routes, teleconference appointments, even flight reschedule alerts. Google recently announced Now’s integration with 40 new third-party applications.
We pick out  four  desi ones.
Taxi, not too taxing!
Identify a cab closest to your location, receive estimated time of the cab’s arrival at your doorstep, along with driver details. The Meru Cabs card helps you do all of this, and saves the information for next time as well.
Recently Meru introduced a new mobile app, which has features like one touch booking, tracking your cab, confirmed booking up to 7 days in advance and India’s first Cab-Wallet. The Cab-Wallet feature in the Meru Cabs App can be used to pay for the trip. Customers register and load money into the app via credit card, debit card, or through net banking. By this payment facility, passengers can simply walk out at the end of the trip & payment will be made automatically.
Match time!
For those of you eagerly planning to get hitched, the Google Now card for Shaadi.com continuously updates you about new matches for your profile. May not be the most productive thing to you in your workplace, but who knows, your life partner might just be a card away.
To use this feature, the shaadi.com app must be downloaded on the phone, before the Google app is tapped to see the ‘New Matches’.
Picture perfect
For serious movie buffs who believe in entering the hall even before the viewership restriction certificates are shown, the BookMyShow card reminds you to leave your house in time for movies or events by calculating the distance to the venue. You also have the option of choosing multiple routes to the location based on routes previously used.
Find the perfect home
The Housing.com card lets you rent or buy a home without having to deal with brokers. With location based search, it picks up properties based on your priorities. Currently this card offers property search in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Faridabad, Kolkata, Noida, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Pune.