Google introduces Map Maker in India

27 Aug 2008

Bangalore: Google has launched Google Map Maker (mapmaker.google.com) in India. Google Map Maker, conceived and developed by the Indian engineering team, allows users to add or edit features, such as roads, businesses, parks, schools, apartment buildings, localities and more.

With Google Map Maker tools, users can add detailed information about locations and the user- created geographical content is updated and made visible immediately to all other users.

The product also introduces peer moderation allowing users to review the data their peers have entered to ensure map quality and accuracy.

The mapping product is particularly relevant for a country like India, with its vast territory, varying geographies, and language and cultural diversity. For example, Google Map Maker can help bolster commerce by enabling people to map local businesses from their regions. Similarly, NGOs can benefit from it by effectively mapping challenging belts in the rural and sub-urban areas.

''Google Map Maker solves an inherent need especially for countries such as ours where maps data is sparse. This product embodies our passion to empower people everywhere, to share knowledge of the places they know best by creating maps,'' says Dr Lalitesh Katragadda, software engineer and creator of Google Map Maker. 

Other than India, Google Map Maker is available in 57 countries in Asia, the Island Nations, and the Caribbean.