Read All About It - Google Maps Australia Links With TrueLocal
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Nick Leeder
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By Martin Kelly, Editor, Search Engine Room
Local search just got turbo-charged with the relaunch of Google Maps Australia – which features not only greater functionality but also business listings from News Digital Media property, truelocal.com.au.
It’s being seen publishing quarters as a legitimate competitor to the Sensis-owned Yellow online business directory, which has an estimated 98% market share.
News Digital Media COO Nick Leeder, who is speaking at Search Engine Room, said the entire truelocal.com.au business listings database, both paid and unpaid, will be utilized by the Google database.
“We also provide Yahoo! Local with data for their local search product but ideally we would like to see people use truelocal,” Leeder told The Australian.
Businesses can also list for free, direct with Google Maps Australia.
The relaunch brings the Australian service into line with its UK and US counterparts.
It offers local map and satellite images, driving directions and mobile phone support through a free downloadable Google application.
But while the launch created a lot of publicity, not all of it was positive.
A Sydney Morning Herald reporter asked Google Maps Australia how to cross the street, and was sent on an 18 minute drive across town.
That’s a long time to reach his destination – the local pub.
Google’s response was that it’s a ‘Beta’ product and bugs are to be expected.
The Google/News links follows last year’s AdSense/search deal between the groups involving MySpace.
Search Engine Room
19 February, 2007
