Google Maps domains launched in 30 African Countries

Posted on 19. Feb, 2010 by Nana Kwabena Owusu in News, Real Tech

Google Africa has today announced major updates to Google Maps in 30 African countries. The most significant aspect of the update is that the 30 countries get their own Google maps domain. Previously only Kenya and more recently South Africa had their own maps domain.

Our big announcement today is that we are launching Maps domains for 30 countries across Africa. So what’s on offer? As well as searching online Maps for towns, highways, or roads, Google Maps users can now find local businesses. This could be a burger place in Lagos, a garage in Kampala, a hairdresser in Accra or an airport shuttle in Dakar.

This update should come with significantly improved map data for the countries which have received their own domains. Although the post on the Official Google Maps for Africa blog does not list the 30 countries, others in the the location and maps developer community have been hard at work. Mapperz, Map and GIS News finding blog has discovered most of the domains activated so far and Ghana is one of them.

Another bit of interesting information gleaned from the Mapperz blog entry is that, a new localised version of Google Maps API Geocoder is being used. Geocoding is the process of converting human readable addresses into geographic coordinates, therefore a local version better because it is more specific to Ghana and additionally this local version also includes Google MapMaker additions by Ghanaians to Google Maps.

Google MapMaker allows anyone to edit and add local information to maps which ensures more relevant information for local versions of Google Maps, especially in Africa where structured adressing systems are lacking for some localities. Now this is a significant part of the announcement so digest slowly (and excitedly) because it means the that there will be improved support for finding roads and highways, towns and local businesses.

Local Businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of Google Local Listings to provide location data about their business to potential customers. Bigger companies can get more location benefits by integrating the Google Maps API into their websites.

I will of course be testing this over the next few days to see if there is a significant improvement over previous updates, especially in the mobile application. However we can do a quick comparison using screenshots I used in a previous article to one I took this evening.

Kumasi City Center (November 23,2009)

Kumasi City Center (February 18,2010)

Tips:

Clicking the circle (or ‘dot’) above the zoom controls will bring Google maps to your approximate current location.
Turn on Photos, Wikipedia and Webcams using the More button in the top right of your map screen.Use tags from the left of the map screen to choose specific interest topics

Tags: africa, domains, Ghana, google, listings, maps, updates

12983 Responses2010-02-19+01%3A24%3A36Nana+Kwabena+Owusu to “Google Maps domains launched in 30 African Countries”

HHOM-Enyimayew Ltd

28. Feb, 2010

Great news. Ghana is on map; so to speak. How do I plot my exact location on the Google map? Nana

Reply to this comment
- just2izy
  
  28. Feb, 2010
  
  Well if you have a business and you want to list it then head over to the Local Business Center (http://www.google.com/local).
  
  There are three main things to keep in mind; 1. You need a Gmail account (http://gmail.com) 2. You need a physical address, which may mean finding out street name information before starting to list your business. Ask around for the name or look out for a road sign. Although Google will allow you to move the balloon which shows your business location around, its much easier with street info but its not essentially 3. A telephone number which is used to verify your business listing.
  
  If you are looking for help info try http://bit.ly/9EpXu1. Maybe this needs a step-by-step article.
  
  Reply to this comment