It was reported yesterday on the Google Lat-Long Blog that a deal had been struck between the Google maps team and US fuelling and retail management company Gilbarco Veeder-Root. This deal will allow for the integration of Google maps into their systems providing local business information and directions. I can see how the directions functionality could work but am struggling to see the use of the local business information would be of use, after all, most people using a petrol station would be local anyway.
I am also thinking that they may be planning to charge for this service as well which makes it even worse. Not many people are going to want to use the internet in a petrol station anyway and if you start telling them they will have to pay for the privilege then I cant see many people going for it.
It will be interesting to see how they integrate the system though and whether they can actually make it work.