Avoiding traffic can be tricky. You'd have to get hold of up-to-the-minute traffic reports so that you can drive down to an alternative route. The problem is that not all mobile service providers offer live traffic updates. And that's where Google comes into the picture.

The company has begun offering live traffic maps to cellphone users through Google Maps for Mobile. This allows users to choose a destination within Google Maps, and a route to that location is calculated. If you find maps confusing, there's really no need to worry. You just have to watch out for congested areas highlighted in red. Yellow and orange markings indicate slowdowns, and of course, green means smooth sailing.

Google Maps for Mobile offers comprehensive data on traffic conditions in more than 30 major US cities.