Latest from Google: Google Maps Beta

The latest product out from the Search Engine giant Google is the new Google Maps Beta service. It provides a refreshing alternative to competitive services in the form of Microsoft MapPoint (http://mappoint.msn.com), Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com), Yahoo Maps (http://maps.yahoo.com) and Map 24 (http://www.map24.com). Another market where Google has now entered to compete heads on with its traditional rivals in Microsoft and Yahoo! The fight seems to get interesting with every week passing by…

Features include:
Easy navigation– Users can drag the map to view the adjacent parts of a map.

Search results from Google Local– To find a wi-fi hot spot in a local area, users may type [wi-fi hot spot] and their local zip code to see wi-fi locations on the map. They also get to see phone numbers for each location appearing on the right side of the page. When users click on locations on the map, they will also find address information.

Single search box– Users can type search terms into a single search box under the Maps tab for local search results and driving directions. For example, typing [great sushi in New York] will display great sushi restaurants located in New York. Typing [Manhattan to Brooklyn] shows directions from Manhattan to Brooklyn.

Turn-by-turn directions– Users may type in an address and Google Maps plots a route, displaying it visually on the map itself, together with step-by-step directions for getting there (or back from there). When users click on one of these steps, they will see a magnified view of the area mentioned in the directions.

Keyboard shortcuts– Users can use the arrow keys to pan left, right, up and down; pan wider with page up, page down, home and end keys; and zoom in and out with the (+) and (-) keys.

There is no support for Apple’s Safari browser and Opera yet. Google have mentioned that they are working for support in Safari.

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