Google Launches Local Search in Australia

It's About Time!

[M_Bison]

[maps.google.com.au ]

Google has finally launched their local mapping product down under.

Apparently, they got their initial data from www.truelocal.com.au (a News Corp site), but businesses can add or modify their listing through the local business centre, which requires a letter to be sent for verification.

Could this be the start of a challenge to the Telstra/Sensis/Whereis monopoly? I hope so, as Yellow Pages rates are truly outrageous.

[bill]

How's this going? I haven't heard much except the troubles they had with their mapping airplane. ;)

[KarlBrown]

There are other data suppliers adding content as well that have not been getting the same level of press.

I'm not sure of any other data suppliers that may be in existence at the current time but I'm sure there will be some.

[edited by: bill at 5:07 am (utc) on Feb. 22, 2007]
[edit reason] remove specifics [/edit]

[M_Bison]

well they added the photographic data they took over sydney on Australia day.

A couple of weeks ago I receive my letter from Google (validation code for the local business center), so that should be up and running in a few weeks.