Google StreetView Goes To London

Sep 29, 2007 at 9:21am ET by Greg Sterling

Google Maps is global, so why not Google StreetView as well? A London expansion is suggested by this image of one of the vehicles that takes the 360 degree street images. (Google has done some of the photography itself, but also uses partner Immersive Media in the U.S.). StreetView image collection is apparently underway in Canada, although there are some legal issues surrounding privacy and consent to be photographed that make it somewhat more complicated than in the U.S.

If or when StreetView expands globally, or at least to Western Europe, it becomes a travel tool for U.S. residents (or for Europeans coming to the U.S. who want to take advantage of the weakening dollar). In the travel context, there are already Trivop and TVtrip, which offer video tours of hotel interiors and surrounding exteriors in Europe.

Before StreetView, the first company to do something similar was France’s directory publisher Pages Jaunes (Yellow Pages). Of course, Pages Jaunes did it the old fashioned way, with humans taking the pictures of building exteriors and storefronts instead of machines. In the U.S., Amazon preceded StreetView with A9 “Block View,” but it shut down the effort (perhaps prematurely). The company, I’m told, still owns patents in the area.

Postscript: Google officially confirmed to us that StreetView is going to the UK and Europe (and elsewhere eventually around the globe). Coverage right now is focused on “major metropolitan areas.” No word, however, on when these images will go live.


Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land, and writes a personal blog Screenwerk, examining the broader world of media and advertising. He also posts at a Local Mobile Search, which is focused on the mobile Internet.

See more articles by Greg Sterling >

Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:

Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter

See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Google: Maps & Local sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!

Comments are closed.

RECENT COMMNENTS

  • Buy Advertising said " I've been experimenting with the merger of advertising and entertainment. I think that it can be bot"
  • nickstamoulis said " Wow, this is very interesting, I was not aware of the the Google Books case at all, I will be sure t"
  • nickstamoulis said " These are all very cool, my personal favorite 4th logo is the Ask.com layout, it is very creative!"

See All »

FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!

Stay on top of all the search news with our daily summary, the SearchCap newsletter. View a sample ›

STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY

RSS Feeds

The Search Engine Land feed keeps you informed as news happens. SEE ALL FEEDS »

Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences

Advertise With Us »

Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.


SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »


Join us at an upcoming SMX event:

Search Marketing Now Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:


See more webcast topics »

TRACK US SOCIALLY
Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences

Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!

Become a premium member today and receive:

  • Express commenting privileges & photo.
  • Exclusive videos & newsletters.
  • Discounts to our SMX conferences.
  • Access to "How To" & Other Archives.

Learn More

Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences
En Espanol|Contact|Members Info|RSS Feeds|Email Subscriptions|Privacy|Advertise
Add to GoogleAdd to My Yahoo!Add to BloglinesAdd to NetvibesAdd to Windows Live