To 100 million and beyond with Google Maps for mobile
Thursday, August 19, 2010 | 11:50 AM
Almost five years ago, we launched Google Maps for mobile to help you get where you needed to go from your phone instead of a paper map. Today, more than 100 million people a month are now using Google Maps for mobile to get from point A to point B, find nearby places, and more.
Over the past five years, Maps for mobile has changed quite a bit, adding more ways to help you explore the world around you. With My Location, you can quickly find where you are on the map with or without GPS. You can put your friends on the map with Latitude. Navigation even turns your phone into a free internet-connected navigation system with voice guidance and Street View imagery.
Google Maps for mobile through the years (click to see larger image).
Search result page for Java-enabled phones in 2005 (left) and Place Page for Android-powered devices in 2010 (right).
Search experience in 2005 (left) and Places for Android-powered devices in 2010 (right).
We hope this is just the start of how Google Maps for mobile will continue to evolve and let you explore the world right from your phone. We’re always inspired by how you’re using Maps, and we’d love to hear about a time when you found the nearest mechanic for a flat tire or discovered that hidden gem of a burger joint. If you have a Google story about when Maps for mobile has helped you, please tell us about it. You can also share quick stories on Twitter @googlemobile, and we’ll share our favorite ones. From all of us here on the Google Maps for mobile team, 100 million thank yous for getting your Google Maps to go!
If you’re a business owner, help millions of people find you by claiming your free Place Page available in Google Maps and our most used mobile “app” -- Google Search. Get started at places.google.com/businesses.
Labels: google maps, google maps for mobile, Mobile Blog
25 comments:
Jpartain89 said...
how about you update google maps for WebOS, since our os is more capable than Android for hosting all this stuff. We're sick and tired of you blatantly ignoring us!!
August 19, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Unknown said...
When are these features coming to iPhone? I would love use Google for navigation and mapping instead of the other applications i use today. I am using other apps only because there is not Google point to point navigation on iPhone.
-Hari
August 19, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Anonymous said...
Hey Hari,
Why don't you buy an Android phone?
Sell your iPhone and buy a Galaxy S.
You will be surprised ( and will never want to go back to Apple again! )
August 19, 2010 at 12:43 PM
... said...
"turns your phone into a free internet-connected navigation system"
You make it sound like "internet-connected" is a feature. When will we have the ability to navigate WITHOUT an internet connection? Data connections don't exist everywhere, you know.
August 19, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Adriano W Almeida said...
Congrats for the service. No doubt it rocks.
But, as we are consumers, and consumers always complain, we still need:
- navigation on android in all Countries, not only us
- Offline navigation
- navigation on other platforms.
Anyway, thanks a lot for the excellent work and keep improving.
Cheers
August 19, 2010 at 1:37 PM
jon81uk said...
If you want navigation without data then buy TomTom or a similar specialist navigation service!
August 19, 2010 at 1:47 PM
RuggerDucky said...
"Hari said...
When are these features coming to iPhone? I would love use Google for navigation and mapping instead of the other applications i use today"
Um, it is already ON your iPhone. iPhone OS comes with Google Maps preinstalled. Click on the Maps icon on your screen. See where it says Google on the map overlay in the bottom right corner of whatever you're using? Yeah. Google Maps. Even with directions! Wow!
August 19, 2010 at 1:58 PM
Unknown said...
@Hari said - When are these features coming to iPhone? I would love use Google for navigation and mapping instead of the other applications i use today. I am using other apps only because there is not Google point to point navigation on iPhone.
@Hari, can't you just use iMap or iNavigate? As the iPhone is so far superior to anything divined by man, it sure seems you'd be able to.
August 19, 2010 at 2:53 PM
Unknown said...
Vic,
Great to see you taking your time out with your busy day (20%? :-)) and writing this nice article! Like many of us stated here we always would like to see google coming out with better products and setting the standard for rest of the crowd!
Can't wait until next android version release ..... and please Don't be evil(!) cause there are so many of us just follow google for that one reason!
August 19, 2010 at 5:31 PM
Brandon said...
I have a Palm Pre (WebOS) and love Google Maps on it! The only problem is it takes about 30-60 seconds to load.
Like someone else stated earlier, and I've thought this for a couple years now - Why can't we have a non-data Google Maps? A map that is usable even when there is not a data connection. With the size of hard drives on phones now a days this should not be an issue at all. And like any other app, when there are new routes or streets to add you simply update the app when you are back in a data area.
Oh, and I don't have a car so I use the bus and light rail a lot and Google Maps is amazing at showing the schedules and routes!
August 19, 2010 at 7:01 PM
Richard said...
to all you saying navigation doesnt work without a data connection, you only need a connection at the start, then it caches the trip. and if you want full featured google products, get a full featured google phone.
August 19, 2010 at 10:27 PM
Unknown said...
I would like to see the map orientation to be true when just viewing the map. I don’t always use the navigation but I use the map a lot and it is confusing when the map is not orientated.
August 19, 2010 at 11:21 PM
Tomek said...
That's fantastic, but great deal of them (e.g voice search, navigation) are not working in Poland. I wonder how is Poland different than other countries, where all those work.
August 20, 2010 at 12:26 AM
Garthy said...
Have you though about using the information you have about peoples positions/speed to create really good uptodate traffic infomation?
August 20, 2010 at 3:23 AM
Juan Pablo Morelli said...
It is very frustrating that you announce all this stuff and here in Argentina ( yes, we talk in Spanish !and in Spain services are working)Voice Search and navigation are disabled by location !!!
Please, turn it on, so I can experiment all the google android experience on my Milestone.
Thank you !
August 20, 2010 at 9:04 AM
TomaszK1 said...
August 20, 2010 at 1:40 PM
TomaszK1 said...
August 20, 2010 at 1:42 PM
TomaszK1 said...
Google Maps: JUST BROKEN TODAY!
Google Maps DEAD:
Sm'thing happened overnight! It's dead. FC every time. Was perfect before today. Fix it, dammit. Don't f'k w/the maps! A little warning next time pls?
WORKAROUND:
Turn OFF WiFi - seems to work ok with 3G
DON'T open from within Market. Use the icon on Home screen or from the apps menu.
SEND EMAIL TO DEVELOPERS using the Market. They read those BEFORE comments.
SEND REPORT when Force Close menu box pops up!
The more feedback they get, the faster if will get fixed!
August 20, 2010 at 1:45 PM
Unknown said...
When is Android version of GoogleMaps going to get the compass rotatey thing out of the iPhone version? It makes no sense to have this in one version and not the other.
August 20, 2010 at 3:35 PM
led signs said...
seems very Nice for my HTC .Let me check it out .see the features.
August 21, 2010 at 8:59 PM
Harold Fowler said...
OK I am down with that, makes sense.
www.anon-web.at.tc
August 23, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Anders the Panders said...
Navigation to us in Sweden please. Now!
August 23, 2010 at 12:15 PM
NickB said...
Only a single to thing to add, cache! We need a version that enables caching when there is no connection available. We don't live all in big cities.
August 23, 2010 at 6:46 PM
lobsterkatie said...
I'd really like to be able to find places *along a route*, not just near a location. Can GMaps do this and I'm just not smart enough to have figured out how, or has this yet to be implemented? (I'd take on the computer, or mobile... whatever.)
Thanks!
August 23, 2010 at 7:22 PM
Robert said...
I absolutely love Google on my iPhone, but I would love to get the Google Navigation app on it. Any word yet? I like Android but it's not for me and I'm sticking to my iPhone. Don't leave your fans who own iPhones in the dark, Google.
August 27, 2010 at 1:30 PM
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