Google's Building Package Tracking Right Into Your Gmail Inbox

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Google is adding package tracking features to Gmail, which should make it easier to see where your orders are at a glance while you scroll through your emails. In a blog post on Wednesday, the company says you'll start seeing "a simple, helpful view of your package tracking and delivery information right in your inbox" in the next few weeks. Gmail will show you the delivery date on the list item for any shipping email, making it so you don't have to actually open the email and click a tracking link to figure out when you should expect the package. If you do go into the email, though, you'll see a card with more detailed info. At the moment, it seems as if the feature will be opt-in -- when it becomes available, you'll be able to turn it on from a notification that shows up in your inbox or through settings. Google says Gmail will also be able to notify you when a package has been delayed and bring the order email to the top of your inbox. That feature seems to be coming later, though, as the post says it'll roll out "in the coming months." Amazon products will not be compatible with the feature because their notification emails don't include tracking information. They also don't disclose what products have shipped. A Google spokesperson told The Verge that the feature will be available "for participating merchants" and that "if a tracking number is not included in the merchant's order email, the package tracking feature won't be available."

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