Archive for July, 2008
Google Maps mobil hört zu
30 Jul. 2008 | Author: AWo |
Die mobile Ausgabe der lokalen Suchmaschine Google Maps kann nun auch per Spracheingabe gesteuert werden. Allerdings befindet sich dieser Dienst noch im Test und ist bislang nur in den USA für wenige Handy-Modelle verfügbar.
Wie die Google-Mitarbeiter Jonathan Matus und Luca Zanolin im Google Mobile Blog berichten, können Besitzer von Black-Berry-Geräten (Pearl 8110, 8120 und 8130) in den USA nun ihre lokale Suchanfrage nach Unternehmen ins Handy sprechen, statt sie über die Tastatur einzugeben.
Besonders praktisch sei diese Art der Suche dann, wenn man gerade nicht tippen könne, der Name des Unternehmens lang sei oder man nicht wisse, wie der Name buchstabiert werde. Die Suche per Stimme sei einfach. Man halte – nachdem man die Kartenansicht auf den eigenen Standort zentriert habe – die Sprachwahltaste auf der linken Seite des Black-Berry und spreche den Namen oder die Branche des gesuchten Unternehmens. Darauf hin lasse man den Knopf wieder los, worauf die Spracherkennungstechnik die Frage interpretiere und das gewünschte Unternehmen finde.
Dieses neue Google-Maps-Feature nutzt die gleiche Spracherkennungstechnik wie die kostenlose computergesteuerte Telefonauskunft GOOG-411 des Suchmaschinenriesen (wir berichteten), erklären Matus und Zanolin. Allerdings scheint die Genauigkeit noch nicht vollständig zu überzeugen, denn die beiden Googler versprechen auch, dass sich die Technik im Laufe der Zeit, wenn mehr Leute diese Suchfunktion per Spracheingabe nutzen, verbessern werde.
GoYellow.de expands its free basic postings
GoYellow.de is offering companies the possibility to present themselves in detail within the web branch directory, at no cost.
Undertakings and service providers can fully inform their potential clients, using the free basic posting “GoBasic”, in so far as profile, team, offerings and services, or the history of the company.
GoYellow Media AG, in a press release, detailed how GoYellow.de will be able to generate significantly more qualified content, through this improved posting. This should also jack up the value of the service and benefit its users.
The company hopes that increasing numbers of undertakings will escalate their presence to a paid level with prominent placement of their postings, as a result of the free service incentive. Addition to the prioritized position on GoYellow.de, undertakings can reserve a top-placed listing on the local ratings portal GoLocal.de, so as to publicize their offerings to an even larger internet target market.
Telegate markets Google AdWords
Telegate has announced a strategic alliance with Google. In the future, businesses represented in the Telegate’s online directories 11 88 0 and Klicktel can advertise using Google’s Pay-per-click (PPC) “AdWords“, for which the advertiser only pays when the ads are click-on by users. Telegate joins the fray in competition with other local-PPC providers such as Yahoo! or suchen.de.
As announced by the enterprise in a press release, the cooperation stands to profit above all small and medium size undertakings. This target group has historically under-utilized this marketing opportunity. Now firms signed as directory clients with Telegate can now also choose to add search engine marketing via Google. Thus, a company can have better localized and context-based access to potential clients, by registering specific keywords with the Google AdWords program, with these ads displayed in either or both the online presences of Telegate and Google.
Of course, such a deal needs to bring benefits to both the directory-provider and the search engine giant: Telegate, sees the collaboration as strengthening their position as ‘leading’ special local search provider in Germany. Google profits in turn through the experience and ‘know-how’ of the 400-strong Telegate team.
Qype for business
The local search and ratings portal Qype has started a new service for companies and service providers, called “Qype for business”.
This was announced by Qype C.E.O. Stephan Uhrenbacher in the German-language blog of the Web 2.0 portal. According to Uhrenbacher this service offers the business owners additional functions to those previously available, so as to facilitate a web presence. Business can update their information, upload a short description and unlimited photos, assign keywords and categories, and all that gratis. Also new is that the businesses receive a daily e-mail summary of all pertinent ratings and uploaded photos, delivering the advantage of being in close touch with user activity.
With these innovations, Uhrenbacher states that the new additional Qype data will improve discovery by Google’s search engines. “For many undertakings, Qype can serve as the simplest version of a homepage in the web”, said Uhrenbacher about the improvements.
Google takes on maps from Tele Atlas
Google and Tele Atlas have signed a long term collaboration. As detailed in a press release from Tele Atlas, the two undertakings closed a 5 year deal at the end of June 2008.
The deal grants Google access to the cartographic material of the Netherlands-Belgian map maker. The search engine giant will be able to use this for its present and future map-based services and navigation facilities, for its internet and desktop services (Google Maps and Google Earth) as well as for mobile applications such as Google Maps for Mobile (mobile.google.de).
Tele Atlas in turn receives access to user corrections and suggestions gathered from the Google user community. Tele Atlas plans to use this data to optimize the quality of their map production. Details of the financial arrangement were not revealed by Tele Atlas.
suchen.de receives Internet award
In mid-June 2008, the organization of German internet commerce Eco announced their Internet-Awards 2008. Among other prizewinners was local search engine provider suchen.de.
The Internet Award[s] were awarded for the eighth year. The Eco-Organization announced that they had received entries from just short of 250 undertakings as candidates for the award.
suchen.de was awarded its prize in the “Best Content Format” category. t-info GmbH, operators of suchen.de, in a press release, detailed that this prize was awarded to the commercial provider who produced and presented its information offering in an original and special way for the Internet. Among the evaluation criteria was the requirement that the offering should use the newest technologies and should present its content in an up-to-date, contemporary and media-compatible manner.
AskCity decides on Microsoft Virtual Earth
AskCity, the local search engine of Ask.com in the USA, has recently started using Microsoft Virtual Earth for their Map Views.
This is disappointing, because Ask.com originally devised its own innovative map product. At the launch of AskCity at the end of 2006, their map offering was outfitted with several practical map functions, such as the Sign Tools (see our report).
With their original innovations, Ask.com assumed a leading role in the field of map searches. Other search engine providers such as Google and Yahoo only introduced equivalent features at significantly later dates. However, Ask.com apparently has decided not to develop its own product any longer, and instead use the cartographic facilities of Microsoft Virtual Earth.
For Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Land, this step has not come as a surprise. He sees it merely as a continuation of the current economic downsizing of the undertaking.
Posted in Local Search per PC, Local Search, News, Local Search Engines, Practical features | 
Tags: Ask.com, AskCity, lokale Informationen, Microsoft Virtual Earth | 
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Tour-de-France-Route in Google Street View
The 95th Tour de France has been taking place from July 5 -27, 2008. For this great cycling event, Google has placed its first Street Views of France on-line.
The 360° Views are to be found in Google Maps, Google’s local search wing. By clicking on “Street View”, a virtual view of the entire race routing is to be found. What’s more, the view is presented from the rider’s perspective, as was reported by Google employee Daniel Ratner in the Google Lat Long Blog. According to Ratner, the absolute latest features of Street View have been implemented for the 21-stage France tour, encompassing ‘Face Blurring’ and high image resolution (see our post).
So, for the first time users are able to access panorama views of Europe, via Google Maps. Until this introduction, users were only able to view USA cities, national parks and recreational areas in Street View. The Tour-de-France route is only the beginning ― Google has already announced that views of other European cities and areas will be forthcoming (see our report). At the moment, German cities are being documented (as noted in the Google Watch Blog). Street-View cars have been already spied in Munich and Berlin– confirmed by a report in the Berlin Tagesspiegel, which also mentions that Google is also shooting in Frankfurt am Main. When these Street Views will be posted on-line is any body’s guess.
Posted in Local Search per PC, Local Search, News, Local Search Engines, Practical features |
Tags: Frankreich, Google, google maps, lokale Informationen, Maps, Panoramaansicht, Panoramabilder, Radrennen, Straßenansicht, Streckenverlauf, street view, Suchdienst, Suchmaschine, Suchmaschinenriese, Tour de France |
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Nokia acquires localized ‘social activity’ service Plazes
The Finnish mobile phone manufacturer Nokia has bought the Berlin-based (launched in 2004) start-up Plazes. In so doing, Nokia implements a further expansion of their localized services, in the direction of time-linked activity planning, as announced by the concern in a press release.
Plazes augments social networking by linking together the elements of ‘location’ and ‘time’. In essence, this concerns the question of in which connection someone is at a specific location at a specific time. Or stated mores imply: the user of Plazes.com can keep other members of this service informed about what and where they are currently doing. This is visible in real-time either for all members, or visibility can be limited to a circle of choice. And, whether for a private date or a business meeting, the users can make appointments among themselves.
“The acquisition fits within our service strategy and helps Nokia to accelerate our vision of bringing people and places closer together”, said Niklas Savander, Head of Nokia Services & Software about the takeover.
The purchase is expected to be finalized in the 3rd quarter 2008, according to Nokia. Details of the purchase price have not been divulged.
Posted in Web Communities, News |
Tags: Community, lokale Informationen, Networking, Nokia, Plazes, Start-up, User Generated Content, web2.0 |
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meinestadt.de now comes with maps from Virtual Earth
meinestadt.de has chosen Microsoft. Alongside with local information, meinestadt.de now offers also virtual town plans and aerial views, using technology provided by Microsoft’s Virtual Earth, for all 12,241 German towns and communities.
The software giant Microsoft announced the above collaboration in a press release. As a result, users of the city portal are able to view a found address in aerial view or city plan/map, and display the routes to the destination. Further, one can also display various points of interest, such as hospitals, parking areas, hotels or theatres. Until this latest development, it was only possible to view 120+ German cities in bird’s eye view.
Immowelt.de: Maps with local information from suchen.de
The result of a cooperation between the Real Estate portal with the local search engine suchen.de, Immowelt.de announced the launch in a press release.
For many properties, it is possible to see their location on a map, and also their surroundings (by clicking on the “Umgebungsinfos” (en=Surroundings info), and discover where to find nearby bakeries, kindergartens, doctors or restaurants. In addition the searcher can select various categories (such as Health, Shopping, Training or Recreation) from a pop-up menu, or enter a special key word in the search field. The results of the research are generated a results list, and can also be viewed on a map in map-mode or aerial view. One can also sort the generated results by distance or relevance, a feature already enjoyed by suchen.de users.
Posted in Local Search per PC, Local Search, News, Local Search Engines |
Tags: DeTeMedien, Immowelt, Immowelt.de, lokale Informationen, suchen.de, Suchmaschine, t-info, Umgebungsinfos, Local Search |
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Media Directory Association awards “Branch Oscars”
The Association of German Information and Directory Media (VDAV) recently presented the German Directory Media Prize 2008.
As reported by the VDAV, the winner was announced during the VDAV-BranchMeet, a congress of the German directory media industry, which took place from 18 -20 June 2008 in Bremen. The ‘Branch Oscars’ were assigned in three categories for especially innovative products and applications.
In the ‘Electronic Directory Media’, the victor was the free mobile phone navigation Ö-Navi, a product of DasÖrtliche. This free software has been on offer by the telecommunications directory portal since mid-2007, with which one can effectively convert a mobile phone into a navigation device. Financed entirely through adverts, the user receives not only a route description, but also has access to the entire online-database of DasÖrtliche, therewith all private and business addresses and is able to connect this data to the navigation interface.
The decision of the award for second place was deemed problematic by the 6-person jury, resulting in a tie for 2nd place. The first of the ’silver’ prizes went to the mobile version of meinestadt.de. The mobile version of the town-portal was praised by VDAV, according to its operators Allesklar.com AG, especially for its wide-spectrum offering of local information, including their mobile ’situations vacant’ section and the ability to receive job training classifieds, via free SMS.
The 2nd ‘Silver’ trophy went to the online-cooperation between the association “gesundheitstadt berlin” (en=’health city berlin’) and the branch portal “gewusst wo” (en=’knowing where’). The operators of gewusst-wo.de, the publications group Beleke, announced this in a press release.
Alongside the digital sphere, prizes were also awarded to print media and marketing-events. All prize winners can be found on the VDAV website.
Posted in Local Search on the go, Local Search per Mobile phone, Local Search, News, Practical features |
Tags: dasoertliche, DeTeMedien, Handy, Handynavigation, lokale Informationen, meinestadt, meinestadt.de, mobile lokale Suche, Navigation, Navigationsgerät, Ö-Navi, Städteportal, VDAV, VDAV-Branchentreff, Verzeichnisdienst, VerzeichnismedienPreis |
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Live Search Maps: new bird’s eye view photos
Microsoft has further expanded the German-version of its local search presence Live Search Maps, by adding many new “Bird’s Eye” views.
As referred to by Tony Pelg, Business Manager at Microsoft, in a posting in the Windows Live Blog, for the first time there are high resolution oblique views available for the Ruhr-area, including for Bottrop, Dinslaken, Dorsten, Duisburg, Essen, Gladbeck, Marl, Moers and Wesel. Newly included is also Duusseldorf, and also new pix of Berlin. The capital city was already viewable from above in this web-presence, as of the launch of the service in August 2007 (see our post).
Well-timed for the coming vacation period, Pelg also mentioned Microsoft’s numerous aerial views of best-loved vacation destinations and cities outside of Germany – such as Sydney (Australia), Calgary, Montreal and Toronto (Canada) or Las Palmas, Telde and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain). Areas and cities in the USA, Greece, Great Britain and the netherlands have also been added, and can all be viewed in the new high-res versions online.
GoLocal.de now available out and about
At the beginning of March 2008, the local ratings platform GoLocal.de was launched (see our report). And as then announced, its operators GoLocal GmbH&Co. KG (a daughter of GoYellow Media AG) implemented a mobile version of this Web2.0 portal in June 2008.
As detailed by the operators in a press release, the whole ‘desktop’ offering is now available in a mobile equivalent (accessed at m.golocal.de) and useable on any internet-ready mobile device.
GoLocal mobile phone or PDA users can now search for providers in a chosen town, such as businesses, restaurants or doctors, call up event listings and also view the location of the generated results on a map. To do this, one enters the desired ‘location’ (town/postal code and a key word, and a list of results is presented. An aside– in our test, the entry of a street name as a search word did not work for us. Pity too, that there is no Route Planner.
As to be expected for a ratings portal, the user can call up location rankings assigned by fellow users, as well as creating further ratings themselves. Anyone is able to score short ratings, without being registered. Whoever so wishes, can choose from preselected key words and assigned up to 5 stars. In order to rate in more detail, registration is required. Using the mobile version of GoLocal.de, the same username and password as the desktop-version are valid. Members can also save their most-liked locations under ‘Favorites’, save interesting events (under ‘My Events’) or flag specific locations under the ‘Notes’ (de=’Merkzettel’) section.
