Services provided by Google Maps in the USA will be soon available ‘on the road’, without mobile phone or PDA – namely at the gas-pumps of numerous filling stations.

According to the Google Lat Long Blog, this is the result of cooperation between the search-engine giant and the gas-pump manufacturer Gilbarco Veeder-Root. As detailed by Gilbarco, the consumer will be able to display maps on a small color screen at the gas-pump, enabled to access pre-sorted categories such as local hotels, restaurants, points of interest or medical facilities, calculate driving routes and directions, and also get a printout, similar to the ever-present Rebate Coupons (see our post) found all over the USA.

The Associated Press reports that more than 3,500 gas pumps across the United States are to be outfitted by December (2007), each providing Google’s local search and map services.

For all those en route without roadmaps, GPS/navigation devices or internet-ready mobile phones, needing localized information, or having got lost, this is certainly going to be a very useful service.  Local drivers waiting to refill their tanks, however, are unlikely to appreciate the queues expected at the pumps.