Tectonic Shifts Altering The Terrain At Google Maps by Mike Blumenthal, Search Engine Land (Oct 14)
Google has dropped TeleAtlas, a supplier of geospacial map data, from Google Maps in the US. It is using an amalgam of Street Views, Map Maker (where an area can generate its own map), information from public entities, some partnering, and "crowdsourcing" - especially of traffic from cellphone users.
Mike Blumenthal seems to be the expert - and has several blog postings about changes Google has made. In this article he interviews Mike Dobson of TeleMapics.
Especially:
Does Google perceive the collection and generation of geospatial information a key competitive differentiator or a necessary evil?Another dilemma! I suspect that Google began their map compilation efforts as a necessary evil to remedy their dissatisfaction with the maps being provided to them by Navteq and TeleAtlas. Google passed on the opportunity to acquire both Navteq and TeleAtlas because they believed that they could produce something better. Once they started development, mapping really got in to their corporate culture and they began to realize that map compilation, presentation and distribution was a key competency within the grasp of their organization. It was only a few steps higher on the ladder before they realized that Google could be a market leader in map data quality and coverage.
Good luck Google - it's not going to be easy. And while people might forgive and error in the bibliographic citation of a book, they won't be happy being directed to the wrong place.
Posted by Gwen at October 16, 2009 12:44 PM