Singapore gets Google panoramic boost

Singapore gets Google panoramic boost

Google launches its highly anticipated Street View service, promising a boon for travellers and businesses here, reports ONG BOON KIAT

STREET scenes along nearly all public roads in Singapore are now available as ground-level digital panoramic images, and one can take a virtual tour through it with a PC or mobile phone.

On the go: Mobile users can use the service via the mobile version of Google Maps, and navigate using their handset’s controls

Called Google Street View, the service was launched in Singapore by the US search giant yesterday, making the Republic the fourth Asia-Pacific country after Japan, Australia and New Zealand to get this highly-anticipated service.

To use the service, one simply clicks on an orange-coloured clothes peg-like icon - dubbed Pegman - at the Google Maps website and drags it onto a desired part of the Singapore map to bring up a corresponding panoramic view. Users can then navigate and zoom within a 360-degree horizontal and 290-degree vertical view.

Mobile users can use the service via the mobile version of Google Maps, and navigate using their handset’s controls.

At the launch yesterday, Google executives called the service a boon not only to travellers, but also to companies because it gives them a new and visual way to reach out to consumers.

‘Imagine all the great uses of Street View here, from promoting tourist hotspots to hunting for property to educating students about historic buildings, and of course, getting directions and searching for businesses,’ said Google’s head of product management for South-east Asia, Andrew McGlinchey.

Organisations can tap into Street View by putting a business listing on Google Maps or embedding Google Maps directly into their websites - both for free.

There are now ‘tens of thousands’ of local business listings on Google Maps, said Google’s head of marketing for South-east Asia, Derek Callow. The number includes lists provided by portals such as Makansutra and Hungrygowhere, as well as those auto-generated from Google’s search index.

Mr Callow urged businesses in Singapore to hop on and take advantage of Street View. ‘Obviously, our aim is to get every single business to Google Maps - and I don’t see why they wouldn’t want to, because it is free.’

At yesterday’s launch, Spectrum Worldwide - owner and organiser of the OCBC Cycle Singapore event - announced it will be using Street View to let participants virtually cycle the routes before the event, which takes place in March next year.

Property portals iProperty.com and PropertyGuru are also incorporating the service into their respective portals.

It has been a busy past month for Google in Singapore. Street View follows the debut of the Singapore version of Google Maps two weeks ago, which features traffic information from the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

First launched in the US in 2007 and now available in over 100 metropolitan areas across the world, Street View is another prong in Google’s vision to organise and harness the world’s information. The free service benefits Google by bringing in more Web traffic to boost the company’s core business of selling search-related advertisements.

Since last October, Google has been snapping pictures along Singapore’s roads using specially modified cars.

It also sought the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) help for information and advice on Singapore’s landmarks. According to Google, nearly all of Singapore’s public roads have been covered.

Street View has drawn both plaudits and privacy concerns since its debut. While it gives travellers a dramatic and visual way of finding and discovering places, some have criticised the all-seeing service for breaching people’s privacy.

To mitigate privacy concerns, Street View only contains imagery that is already visible from public roads and blurs both people’s faces and vehicle licence plates. Users can also ask Google to remove images they consider inappropriate.

Google said it will be updating its data for Singapore next year, which should incorporate several major upcoming landmarks like the integrated resorts.

Next year should also see a different set of panoramic scenes added, which will show locations not accessible by cars. In October, Google started using a tricycle - which it dubbed the Trike - to collect such images in various parts of Singapore. They will come online next year, Google said.

Source : Business Times - 03 December 2009

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