New York uses Google applications to guide tourists in the city

Google Maps and Google Earth are the centerpiece of NYCGo, a new information and reference project launched by the New York City government to provide resources to both visitors and locals. Wednesday's launch announced the debut of NYCGo.com, a Google Maps-fueled local search and reference site, as well as the unveiling of the renovated New York City Information Center a few blocks north of the tourist-heavy Times Square district.

The new $1.8-million visitor centre, a few blocks north of Times Square, replaces one that closed in July. Wall-mounted information kiosks available in nine languages will offer transportation tips and services. The center will also sell MetroCards and tickets to top attractions.

NYCGo.com contains not just Google map and search data, but also travel deals from Travelocity and local content from what-to-do powerhouse Time Out New York, nightlife culture magazine Paper, the New York Observer, and eco-living guide Greenopia.

The city's technocratic mayor, Michael Bloomberg, even contributed a guest post to the official Google blog to announce it - "The Information Center features interactive map tables, powered by the Google Maps API for Flash, that let you navigate venues and attractions as well as create personalized itineraries, which can be printed, emailed or sent to mobile devices," the blog post explained. "Additionally, there's a gigantic video wall that utilizes Google Earth to display a 3D model of New York City on which you can map out personalized itineraries."

"Our city's travel and tourism industry is as important today as ever, and we've invested in new tools to attract visitors and formed innovative partnerships with brands such as Google and Travelocity to promote the city to people around the world," Bloomberg said.

Both the visitor center and the Web site will offer Google Maps for trip planning. At the center, interactive tables will allow users to plan a custom tour and then visualize it using Google Earth on the video wall. "New York City's innovative implementation of Google tools will improve the experience for both visitors and locals," said Google Senior Vice President Tim Armstrong.

New York is just the latest organization to use the Google Maps technology, For example, JetBlue Airways Corp. in 2007 jointly developed an application with Google that lets its passengers follow their flights in real time on the plane's seat-back televisions.