Monday, December 15. 2008

Two NZ Firms Learn to Live with Google's StreetView

Computerworld New Zealand sounds a bit skeptical of the positive spin of two local companies as they work around Streetview:

Local online mapping service providers are putting on a brave face, welcoming the launch of Google’s Street View and saying it creates an awareness of spatial information that can only be good for business.

ProjectX shut down its Smaps a few weeks ago and its Trade Me real estate site now uses StreetView. But it's other property ZoomIn, a sort of StreetView with value add from user generated content, is getting more hits. Says the chief executive:
"We can’t compete against Google, but we can provide extra value and services for local businesses."

Terralink’s street level images are focused on the business-to-business space. It's Streetcam "incorporates a number of data sets, such as GPS, geometry and imagery," something far beyond "just pictures."