Google Maps in the business world

location based services


Google Maps mashups have gone from fun-to-play-with hacks to intricate web applications known as mashups. This is thanks to the introduction of the Google Maps API and support from Google engineering staff and product management teams. As it appears clear that Google Maps is here to stay many companies are either partnering with Google or enlisting the help of Google Maps for Enterprise to uncover new business applications for these web-based maps and mashups. Here is a roundup of these recent partnerships, new business related maps mashups and further analysis and commentary from the news world and blogosphere..Business Maps Mashups:U.S. Cellular uses Google Maps in promotion [via]Patagonia.com Store FinderBritish Airways integrates mashes up with Google Maps - Watch and read this interview with the CIO of British Airways to understand BA's thinking behind this strategic partnership.Silicon Valley VC Funding Map (More VC Maps here)Whole Foods Store Finder - A map locator by Whole Foods Market. More info from this Google Enterprise Blog post.SalesForce.com: Improved Salesforce-Google Maps Mashup (Official SalesForce Blog - Aug.31/06)SalesForce.com: PPartner Recruitment Mash Up with Google Maps (Official SalesForce Blog - Mar.07/06)Other examples: Heineken, Jeep, MTV, Nike, Fidelity Investments, Big Media (More Business Maps Mashups are here..)Build a Business Maps Mashup:Google Maps for Enterprise - The Google Maps API with full enterprise licensing and supportBlipstar - This site lets you easily add a store or branch finder to your business websiteFreeDemographics.com API - Demographic information for your mashup = A Dashup. More info here.Add your business to Google Maps for free:Add your business to Google Maps (Google.com)Add Coupons to your Google Maps business listing (Google.com)Have Your Company Listed Free in Google Maps (ISED Sept.13/06)Google Intuit Partnership:The new version of QuickBooks will allow you to add a business listing and sell items on Google Maps. Check out what this might mean to businesses:Google Marketing Tools - (From Intuit.com)QuickBooks Premier Edition 2007 (ABCNews - Oct.4/06)The Google-Intuit Partnership: This Could Be Massive (Business 2.0 Blog - Sep.13/06)Major Google/Intuit Partnership (TechCrunch.com - Sep.13/06)Intuit & Google Announce Major Local Search Marketing Partnership (SearchEngineWatch - Sep.13/06)Cisco searches for Google link (Australian IT Oct.3/06) - "The networking giant said it was tinkering with Google's popular consumer focused services, including Google Maps, to see if they could be integrated with Cisco's unified internet protocol communications platform."Have I missed any high-profile companies making use of Google Maps? Do you know of an example where Google Maps for Enterprise is in use? If so, please post a comment.