Google Australia last week switched on turn-by-turn navigation for users with smart phones running Google Android.

Instead of having to print out directions in advance, or having a co-pilot read aloud from a list of directions, users can now use their smart phone to guide them to their destination directly, in the same way an in-car GPS unit would.

The system has a voice search function, which means drivers can search for directions to “art gallery, Sydney,” or “nearest petrol station.”

And it is integrated with Google search, meaning users can search their surroundings for locations in the same way they search the internet.

It also includes a function that displays live updates on local traffic conditions.

Google says the service could later be offered on smart phones like Apple's iPhone and RIM's Blackberry.