Users can now get directions in real time through updated Google Maps. Photo/MICHAEL MUTE
Kenyan businesses and individuals can now get directions in real time using Google Maps, the online database of detailed maps hosted by the internet giant.
The company hopes businesses will use the cartography service, which was upgraded early this month to include point-to-point directions for drivers, as an online and commercial marketing tool through its Local Business Centre (LBC), which allows firms to add their listings to the map and connect with potential customers.
“This is one of our first African launches for directions on Google Maps. Over time we hope it will evolve, becoming more extensive and helpful in getting people from one place to another. Directions are also available on Google Maps for Mobile (GMM) so now your only excuse for being late is the traffic,” said Jacqueline Rajuai, Google Kenya’s Geo Specialist.
Kenyans were previously only able to use the service for detailed maps of towns such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru, which are accessible on Google Maps through any web browser or via data enabled handsets.
Google Maps users were able to search up to date online features, look up businesses, advertise for free via LBC and create their own maps.
Users of the service will now be able to view directions to and from various points in Kenya besides alternate routes to most destinations.
One only needs to enter the start and end point of a journey to get a map which can also be viewed in satellite mode and a step-by-step guide to the destinations.
The map highlights a variety of routes that can to be used to get to the destination, gives the distance between various points and an estimated arrival time.
The map data includes a substantial amount of user generated content provided via Google Map Maker.
“This essential tool is by no means Google’s effort alone. We’re enormously grateful to Kenya’s active online cartographers who have helped us build these maps from ground up with the use of Google Map Maker, a tool that allows people to help create a map by adding or editing features such as roads, businesses, parks, schools and more,” said Ms Rajuai.
The development should also create new retail opportunities for the sales of positioning gadgets such GPS and GPS-enabled mobile handsets, a market that has grown by 60 per cent over the last five years due to increased access to services such as Google Maps.
Direction services are most often used by motorists in Europe and US, who are able to use visual maps displayed on enabled devices mounted in cars to obtain constantly updated route information.
But analysts say the biggest growth area for the technology will be with personal users as mobile phone makers incorporate the technology into their phones.
Industry research
According to industry research, over 56 million users now access mapping services using their mobile phones.
Google said that creating the Kenyan database of maps was an ever evolving process that would continuously be updated with additional features.
The company, whose African headquarters are in Nairobi, first embarked on its mapping venture by making mapping data available on Google Maps for East Africa followed by about 45 countries across the rest of Africa.
It then created a specific Google Map portal for Kenyan users on their own domain, maps.google.co.ke, including enabling access to Google Maps for Mobile, which was a first for Africa and was developed in response to the high uptake of mobile gadgets.
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