Google maps ditches TeleAtlas for own mapping data

Haven't been watching the matter that closely, but I had to laugh at how blind the media seems to be at Google's transition from one set of mapping data to an other, at least for the US. First Google has started with Navteq. At that time it was what the competitor Mapquest used and what many GPS manufacturers used (including Garmin and Magellan), and considered by many the superior mapping data. Then we assisted to a slow rise of TeleAtlas, and for a reason or an other (like maybe the Navteq acquisition by Nokia) Google transitioned to the TeleAtlas mapping system. That was September 2008, and at that time TeleAtlas was owned by the GPS maker Tomtom.

Today, in the flurry of news about Google's navigation software I just thought to take one more look at the maps in my PC browser. And surprise surprise, the starting map piece with my home location looked different. More detailed I should say and in a slightly different , more crisp layout. I live near a state university, and the maps now reflect lots of details about campus buildings. Even doctors' offices are shown on the map. 

I checked quickly the right bottom corner where Google notes the map data source, and you can read now "Google - Map data" where we could read before "TeleAtlas". So Google is relying now on its own mapping data. Checking the news again, there is a scarcity of information about it, but nevertheless there seems to be a statement from a TeleAtlas spokeperson confirming the cessation of the deal for the US maps.

I think in the light of the new Google navigation software this is an important piece of news. For better or for worse Google ditched Teleatlas (owned by Tomtom) while offering its own breakthrough navigation solution. That means Google will not only compete with Tomtom with its navigation solution but also as a provider of mapping data.

What is everybody thinking about the new Google Maps? Better or worse in your area?

Google Public Policy Blog: Giving a voice to "digital refugees"

Google Public Policy Blog: Giving a voice to "digital refugees"

Puzzled by how people can be fooled

Yesterday I saw an ad in my Gmail account, about some gadget sold at an incredibly low price on some new auction website. Although the price seemed "too small to be true", and the general advice is not to believe an offer that does not seem credible, I went on to check on the website. Being referred by Google it should be no surprise to anybody that I searched google for this "magnificent" new website called Swoopo. I read some rather beningn articles, and I started to learn about their business model.

My biggest surprises: not only that Swoopo makes $1 for every 15 cents that are bid on an item, but the "winning prices" of the items are nowhere near that low as Swoopo advertises. One of my "favorites" is an auction for a Sony Vaio, that is about to end "in a few seconds".. from yesterday. This is because each bid pushes the auction ending by 15 seconds. The poor suckers keep bidding, paying $1 for each $0.15 increment, and the price of the thing got already to $2,866 as of this writing, although the MSRP is only $1,399. (please click on the picture to see it better for yourself). The "happy winner" is going to pay more than double the price suggested (which is generally high anyway), plus a hefty premium for bidding: what swoopo makes is over 6 times the "winning price" (they make $1 for every$0.15), so on this item alone Swoopo made already a whooping $19,000!!!!.. from auctioning 1 piece of a Sony Vaio notebook, and without selling it yet.

A word of wisdom says that is not stupid the one who asks, but the one who gives. In this case however, I think stupid is all of us if we let this website and this business model function like they want. Authorities, lawyers, please show these "europeans" why America is different! Europeans, please don't take it personally, but this scam functioned and still functions at its leisure in countries like Germany and UK. Although people complain, the website is still on.