Click the “send” link above the map and this window appears:

Separately, Garmin said it’s integrating Google Maps content and local search into its Garmin Mobile subscription service.

Yahoo has similar deals with car OEMs and with personal navigation device maker Dash.

Here’s a video demonstration of how it works:

According to Google, the system should be live now in the US, Europe, Middle East and African markets. But we’ve looked, and a “Send To GPS” option still doesn’t seem to be live despite appearing in the TomTom video. The screenshots below show how the “Send” link for a map item still only has an email option:

Personal navigation devices represent an interesting mobile alternative to cellphones for users to access content on the go. They are becoming much more than simply ways to get maps and directions. For example, the new Dash Express positions itself as an “open content platform” for third party developers. And Dash has content deals with Yahoo and Zillow, among others.

Consumers currently pay monthly fees for these devices. There is no advertising on them but they will eventually become ad and mobile commerce vehicles. Indeed, expect search and search advertising to eventually make their way onto these devices and into cars accordingly.

As an extension of its earlier “Send to Car” Maps partnership with BMW, Google has introduced in-car local search for BMWs in Germany. Here’s a video that partly illustrates the functionality. Google has also expanded the Send to Car Maps functionality to Italy and the UK. One would assume that in-car local search isn’t far away for those countries (and eventually the U.S.) as well.

Mercedes Benz has also announced a deal with both Google and Yahoo called “Search & Send,” where users can send maps from either search engine to Mercedes Benz’s in-car telematics system:

The Search & Send feature debuts not only on high-end Mercedes-Benz models – the S-Class sedan and CL-Class coupe – but also on the much-anticipated new-generation C-Class model line which is currently arriving at dealer showrooms across the country. Search & Send will be phased in on additional Mercedes-Benz models during the coming year.

Maps and directions can be sent to the involved Mercedes via a desktop PC or a mobile phone. Here’s a page of videos that demonstrate the feature. At the beginning of this year, Yahoo announced a partnership with portable, in-car navigation provider Dash to deliver Yahoo Local content via Dash’s portable “Dash Express” device and system.

Personal navigation devices, such as Dash Express or TomTom, are quickly turning into more comprehensive local mobile search platforms. They can be used in the car or out of the car and on the go. Simultaneously the luxury car makers already have “points of interest” data in their on-board navigation systems. But the branded search deals mentioned above take that a step further.

Somewhere between the desktop and a mobile phone, in-car local search is an emerging arena for search engine competition, development — and potential future ad revenue.

Users plan trips via MapQuest and then, effectively, “send to car” (as they would their mobile phones). Directions are downloaded and played back via voice, turn-by-turn. Up to five destinations can be saved in the car. OnStar is a subscription based service and you have to be an OnStar subscriber to use Web Destination Entry.

Google Maps recently announced announced a conceptually similar program with BMW in Germany, and in-car navigation provider Dash has a deal with Yahoo to incorporate local listings data and reviews into a dashboard device. To my knowledge the Dash program doesn’t include a web component.

It’s very likely that we’ll see more and more interchange among devices like this: Internet and mobile being the most common arena but also with Internet and car navigation (and local search/points of interest) at the higher end of the market.

To my knowledge (based on a quick check) none of the other major traditional yellow pages sites offer this feature. Eventually it will be standard however.

YellowPages.com also is announcing a newly redesigned WAP site.

Recently YellowPages.com parent AT&T launched ad-supported free directory assistance in the form of 1-800-YellowPages (only in three markets so far). It has a range of ad options for marketers and offers both category search and business name lookups for consumers. This service, though not officially part of YellowPages.com, nonetheless extends the YellowPages.com brand into the mobile realm.

Mobile is going to be a huge driver of local search volumes eventually and any serious local search player will need to have a mobile strategy.

Postscript: Yell.com in the UK (and parent of Yellow Book in the US) corrected us that the company’s site has had send to mobile for “over two years.”