Search Engine Google on Wednesday introduced new advertising features intended to help local businesses get more customers and recover from the ongoing pandemic.

The Google features come as retailers across the United States were battered after being forced to shut their doors in March over virus fears.

The tech giant said people searching on their mobile phones for local services like air conditioning repair or carpet cleaning will now be able to book those services directly through the company.

Small businesses will be now be able to promote their business for free on Google Maps until the end of September, the tech giant said.

These companies will be able to place a pin on Google Maps, normally a paid advertising feature, and highlight services they offer such as curbside pickup or delivery.

The features for small businesses are intended to help people find items in stock locally at a time when many products are still out of stock at major retailers due to the pandemic, said Jerry Dischler, vice president and general manager at Google, who oversees the company’s advertising products.

“We play an important role to match demand with businesses around the world,” he said in an interview.

Google Meet To Be Accessed Via Gmail Soon On Android, IOS

Also, Search engine Google has announced to bring its video chat service ‘Meet’ to Gmail on Android and iOS smartphones so that people can easily join video meetings from their inbox on the go.

In a few days, the company users will witness a new ‘Meet’ tab on their phone’s Gmail app where they can see upcoming meetings scheduled in Google Calendar, and easily join them in just a click.

In the Meet tab, tap on “New meeting” to start a video chat at once, get a meeting link to share, or to schedule a meeting in Calendar.