New Google Maps Maker Has Mashup Makers On The Run

location based services

from the do-it-yourself dept

Today, Google announced a new service called My Maps that makes it easy for anyone to build their own Google map for things like "favorite barbecue joints in Texas" or "best art galleries in New York". It's already generating an enthusiastic response, and it wouldn't be a surprise if it became a popular service, since most people don't already know how to build their own. There are, however, some startups that are focused mainly on letting people build their own maps, and there's some concern that Google's entry into this space (if it can really be called a space) will destroy these startups. The sentiment is that Google shouldn't be killing off an ecosystem that was built around a platform it created. Of course, most users of the internet have never heard of companies like Platial and Frappr, which help users build their own Google Maps. With Google's announcement many more people are now aware of this capability, which is definitely a good thing. If these companies can't survive now that Google has introduced this, it underlines the danger of building an entire company as a feature on top of another service. Ultimately, it's not even clear that Google's move represents instant death for anyone. If these startups are able to continue to innovate around the idea of maps and location based services, Google's rudimentary offering shouldn't be a problem.