Cue Google Labs again for their newest addition: Google Maps. Following on the heels of a glorified online TV Guide Google Video, personally I’m not very excited about Google Maps either because there’s lots of online mapping software. Sure, some of it is of questionable quality (like MapQuest, IMO), which certainly Google can improve upon. I did poke around a bit and was impressed by being able to make text searches like “theaters near Puyallup, WA” to be able to locate all the local movie theaters along with the phone numbers near our office. Of course, Kara’s SPOT watch, when it is actually in range, will deliver the movie times of the nearest theater, so that is of more value (when it works).

The solution that makes more sense for my business is the one I just purchased: a GPS combined with software like Microsoft Streets & Trips 2005. The main problem with online mapping services is that, gotcha, you have to be online! When you are out and about looking for something or on your way to an event in your car and say you get lost a service like Google Maps isn’t going to help much. Yes, if you are preplanning routes, but what if the office calls and says: you need to inspect a house on ___ street? Online mapping for insurance agents, claims adjusters, real estate agents, surveyors, etc doesn’t provide much usefulness in this real world scenario. And if I’m visiting a foreign place, that doesn’t have an internet connection, I’m sort of in the same boat … for me it’s the major gotcha with online mapping services: the fact that there is no always on connection available to most travelling netizens. And when do we need maps the most? In our vehicles.

• Ad supported online mind mapping
• Egosurfing via newly launched AOL local search
• Different map strokes from different folks, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft
• MSN Virtual Earth vs. Google Maps
• Memory mapping with Flickr, Google Maps and Keyhole
• Google Maps + Keyhole Imagery = mapping from space