Archive for November, 2007
Google Maps in Austria and Switzerland
29 Nov. 2007 | Author: 
A German version of Google’s local search engine has been online since April 2006. Now Google has launched a localized search service extending the coverage to Austria and Switzerland.
The above was announced in a press-release from the news agency Pressetext. The Swiss local variation of Google Maps is accessed using maps.google.ch and for Austria under the similar URL maps.google.at. This means that localized Swiss and Austrian searches for location-specific firms or service providers are now possible, with the results generated in the respective terrain, hybrid or satellite views offered. In both cases, route planning is also offered.
In an interview with Pressetext, the product manager of Google Maps, Christoph Oehler explained that the new services were not merely translations of those existing. The country-specific services have been customized with the cooperation of local partners.
Similar to that of other Google Maps, country-specific editions, firms and providers in Austria and Switzerland are able to register their undertakings free of charge with Google Maps, and edit their entries, in being able to augment basic location information with opening times, payment modes accepted or photos. Further, as in existing localized versions, Google allows its users to actively participate in content-creation- every registered user can also rate the discovered provider/business and also create user-specific maps.
For those who would like to use these new services, they should bookmark these URLs. Unlike that in Germany, where Google Maps is prominently displayed as a link in the Google Portal, the new services for Austria and Switzerland are not [at time of writing] displayed in either local portals (www.google.at and www.google.ch respectively). In fact, neither versions are yet listed under the “further products” [‘weitere Produkte'] link.
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Fill up on local information
Services provided by Google Maps in the USA will be soon available ‘on the road’, without mobile phone or PDA – namely at the gas-pumps of numerous filling stations.
According to the Google Lat Long Blog, this is the result of cooperation between the search-engine giant and the gas-pump manufacturer Gilbarco Veeder-Root. As detailed by Gilbarco, the consumer will be able to display maps on a small color screen at the gas-pump, enabled to access pre-sorted categories such as local hotels, restaurants, points of interest or medical facilities, calculate driving routes and directions, and also get a printout, similar to the ever-present Rebate Coupons (see our post) found all over the USA.
The Associated Press reports that more than 3,500 gas pumps across the United States are to be outfitted by December (2007), each providing Google’s local search and map services.
For all those en route without roadmaps, GPS/navigation devices or internet-ready mobile phones, needing localized information, or having got lost, this is certainly going to be a very useful service. Local drivers waiting to refill their tanks, however, are unlikely to appreciate the queues expected at the pumps.
Mobile search by iPhone
Timed for the launch of the Apple iPhone in Europe, several providers of local mobile search services have introduced their own versions of iPhone-ready services.
As of November 9, 2007 – more than 4 months after the start of sales in the USA– one can finally acquire the long-awaited iPhone here in Germany [and the United Kingdom.] Taken literally, the iPhone is not only a mobile phone, but also rather a combination of iPod, mobile phone and internet-ready device. One of its special features is the so-called “multi-touch” interface – a touch screen, operated by the user’s finger[s].
Several local [German-language] online-directory providers have already revised their interfaces to cater to the iPhone.
Using YellowMap, the iPhone owner can directly access an iPhone-specific URL iphone.yellowmap.de. According to the company, all of its services, from searching its business listings and white pages, through route planning, to city maps, are available at a finger touch, using the iPhone’s multi-touch interface. Using the integral touch keyboard, the user can enter the required area of interest and/or location (using the postal code), and then start the search function. The results, according to YellowMap are then displayed as an interactive locality map.
GelbeSeiten.de [‘Yellow Pages’] has also released a press statement, detailing the iPhone-optimized service that they are offering, to be called up via the URL: iphone.gelbeseiten.de. Here one can conveniently access all relevant content of the online directories of this service, without losing the iPhone ‘feel’. The design is specially configured for display per iPhone screen, offering a simple user-interface and easily laid-out results pages.
Contrary to YellowMap and GelbeSeiten, iPhone users of the service-provider DasÖrtliche are able to utilize the existing mobile-device-accessible URL: mobil.dasoertliche.de, according to a report on portel.de. All technical requirements and features of the iPhone are accommodated, reflecting the complete Apple usability guidelines for the iPhone. The intuitive use of the screen is thus assured as well as optimal use of the iPhone user interface.
Conference about the power of the search engines
For the second time this year, experts at the latest Euroforum Conference, titled “The Power of the Search Engines” discuss the significance and future of Google, Yahoo and the rest.
Earlier this year, a Euroforum conference on a similar theme was presented in Hamburg (see our post.) This time the venue is Berlin and takes place on December 13 and 14, 2007.
This time, according to a press report of the organizers, Euroforum Deutschland GmbH, discussions will center on the fields covered by the terms “enterprise, local, mobile, social semantic or universal” search, and a discussion on the meaning/significance of these services. Along with an emphasis on these specialized search machines, search as a factor in the success of undertakings, and quality factors in search machines and search machine marketing, as well as media-political and legal aspects will be discussed.
A central theme on the first day of the conference is ‘local search’, as outlined by Dr. Frank Meik (Managing Director of MW Verlag), specializing on the role of local search in the field of regional newspaper publishing. Daniel Tschentscher follows with an analysis of the future role of local search and its integration with Web 2.0 features, among other topics.
Further information about the conference as well as the complete program can be found on the website of Euroforum Deutschland GmbH.
superpages.com expands its Web 2.0 capabilities
The USA-based online-directory superpages.com now empowers its users to participate and interact extensively in their listings.
Superpages.com, a service of the Idearc Media Corporation, is one of the leaders in the online-directory community in the USA. As detailed by Idearc recently, it has expanded its Web 2.0 facilities. Utilizing the new functions, for example, the user can edit a company profile, add or change the products or services offered, or adjust methods of payment accepted. Photos can also be added, and descriptions and notations adjusted. In addition there is the facility, using so-called ‘Business Blogs’, to add appropriate information and comments about respective firms and undertakings in the listings, and to enter into discussions with other superpages.com users.
This appears to be a really unusual step for the classic online-directories in the United States. Greg Sterling, an expert specializing in local search and online directories in the USA, writes in his blog that through this new feature, superpages.com becomes one of the front-runners and early innovators in the online-directory service-provider community. He also expects that the competition will not be far behind this innovation.
Update to Microsoft Live Maps Deutschland
Subsequent to the update and introduction of new features of the US-Edition of Microsoft’s local search in mid October, the German version has recently been updated.
In August, with the introduction of Live Maps, Microsoft released a local search engine for Germany (see our post.) In this specialized German version, Microsoft works in collaboration with the local search engine suchen.de. Suchen.de is responsible for the provision of the address data for companies and services. The current update introduces two features, as Toni Pelg, Business Manager for Microsoft, details in a post in Windows Live Blog.
A so-called ‘mini map’ is now integrated in the zoom function of the map and satellite views. This small additional map can be opened or closed and enlarged by clicking the respective arrows. This is particularly useful with the ‘Bird’s Eye View’ option. Using the mini map, once can drag the window to another location and thereby retain one’s orientation. Here too, once can toggle between the Map View and Hybrid View options.
According to Toni Pelg, it is now possible to send links by e-mail of the Maps or Satellite views, or one can also display the alternatives as permalinks. This function is found under ‘Options’ in the menubar above the map. The aim of this function, says Pelg, is this: “Your friends can be easily and rapidly informed of your next meeting place. Or readers of your blog can easily click on a permalink to get an idea of your last neighborhood where you lived.”
Townster – open for all
Using Townster anyone is able to do a local-search, without ever having to enroll with the community.
Townster combines a Local-Search and Advice portal with social networking. Using this, one can for example, not only discover the location of an interesting bar, a good restaurant or a competent hairdresser, but also find out who in the community goes to these places, and then facilitates meeting people.
This Local Web-Community was launched at the start of July 2007 (see our earlier post). Until now, many of the services and attractions of the website were only available to members. Even a search operation was only for registered users. This serious disadvantage has now been removed.
Now, any user can run search queries and navigate to the numerous zones and attractions on Townster, without being registered. This was announced on the blog of this Web 2.0 site. Registration is only required when someone would personally like to add a location or rate something. Of course, register also if you want to join the Community, and wish to contact other users.
As before, unfortunately the actual search results are relatively sparse. One hopes that through the now-improved general accessibility of the site, the number of users who add entries and contributions will grow accordingly.
11880.com cooperates with “BILDmobil”
Using the tabloid’s mobile-portal, users can request phone numbers and addresses.
The online directory 11880.com, run by Telegate AG, is now directly integrated with the mobile-portal (BILDmobil) of the tabloid newspaper “Bild”, according to a press release. All the services of 11880.com are accessible, including map view and route planning.
To access this, the user enters wap.mobile-bild.de in the browser of an internet-activated mobile phone [/device]. On the start page of BILDmobil, under the link “Kostenlos: Telefonauskunft mobil” [‘Free: mobile telephone information'] one finds headlines, weather information, horoscopes and other services of the online directory. After clicking this link, as on most local search services, you can enter a ‘who? what? or where?’ query, and select your destination from the generated results list.
New Neighborhood-Community launched
The portal ImmobilienScout24 [loosely translated as ‘RealEstateScout24'] recently started up a ‘Local Community’ online.
The new Web-Community is called „meine Nachbarschaft” ["My Neighborhood"]. According to the organizers, this site is intended to provide information to its users and offer discussion facilities on a regional level.
This concept is centered on the Germany-wide, 16000 so-called neighborhoods divided among town areas and communities. The each “neighborhood” can be seen in map form (the visual material is provided by Microsoft Virtual Earth), where “interesting locations” [„Interessante Orte"] are marked. Virtually anything that a resident could need in daily life can be found: from pharmacies to public telephones, bars and churches, through to convenience stores and glass recycling bins. Suppliers and locations are not only found on the map, but also specifically through search or tag-clouds you will.
Registered users are able to add locations. Much data is provided through the online directory “DasÖrtliche” [‘TheLocal'] – such as businesses, local authorities and institutions. According to ImmobilienScout24, as of the launch in mid-October, there were more than three million “interesting locations” awaiting discovery. However, there are numerous communities and city areas, displaying very meager information.
This forum offers an alternative form of interaction – members can make direct contact with each other through their posted “interesting locations”.
By the way, the „meine Nachbarschaft” [‘My Neighborhood'] of ImmobilienScout24 should not be confused with the similarly-named „meineNachbarschaft” [‘myNeighborhood'] of the Hamburg-based market research organization, the Brandon Science Institute, that was launched in June 2007.
