Google launches mobile street map service

by Jennifer Whitehead, Media Week 18-Sep-08, 10:30

LONDON - Google has launched a version of its maps service for mobile devices, now incorporating the street-level imagery of Street View.

Revealing the development on its mobile blog, Google said that the mobile service will allow people to access Google Maps and view photos of shop fronts or restaurants from mobile devices.

New features added along with Street View are business reviews and a walking directions service, which Google recently launched on PCs.

Mapping is the latest big thing in mobile, with more users buying better-equipped mobile devices, many of which include GPS. Google's new service is available for BlackBerry and other Java-enabled phones and can be downloaded at www.google.com/gmm

Street View has been a controversial product for Google, because of concerns over the invasion of privacy caused by the fleet of cars sent out to photograph every metre of major metropolises.