The latest version of Google Maps for mobile, a downloadable Java application, now features live traffic updates and the ability to save favorite locations and driving directions. Mobile phone users will now also be able to customize the content that appears on the mobile version of their Google Personalized Homepage.

The latest version of Google Maps for mobile will enable users in the U.S. to view comprehensive information on traffic conditions in more than 30 major metropolitan areas, the company says, and partial information in many others, right from their mobile devices. To get information on traffic conditions in a particular area -- including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and New York City -- users simply move to the desired location within the application and select "show traffic" in the menu. The most up-to-date traffic information will be sent directly to the users' mobile device, and will highlight the conditions on the covered commuter routes using red, yellow, and green overlays.

In addition, when mobile phone users search for driving directions, they will now see the expected drive time as well as any unexpected traffic delays, making travel planning much easier and more effective.

Google has also introduced a new favorites feature in Google Maps for mobile that lets users save their favorite locations and frequently used driving directions for future use. Once saved, favorites can be accessed at any time by pressing the "star" key on the mobile device. This new feature is available to mobile phone users in the U.S., Canada, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain.

To download Google Maps for mobile, users simply visit google.com/gmm from their phone's web browser. Mobile phone users who have the current version of Google Maps installed on their phone will receive an automatic notification to upgrade.

Google Personalized Home now also makes it easier for mobile phone users to quickly get the information they need when they're away from their desks, the company says. When users log in to Personalized Home on their desktop and click on the "mobile" link at the bottom of the page, they will be able to customize the content they see the next time they log on to their Personalized Home on their mobile device. Not only can they customize content, but users can also specify the order in which that content appears on their mobile devices.

Google says that this feature, along with the Google Maps for mobile enhancements, is the direct result of user feedback.