Yahoo Upgrades Maps

Posted: November 3, 2005

There has been a flurry of activity surrounding Yahoo’s new map service.

For those who don’t want to read any commentary and just get clicking - here’s where you need to visit (FYI - If you’re using Avant browser, you need to turn on Flash to view).

Yahoo Blog on Map Upgrade.
New Map APIs from Yahoo.
The Beta Map Page.

For those who are still here…

The new service has a very interesting point-to-point direction service. Search for your favorite restaurant. Hover over the map until the pop up box appears. Click on the double >> and click on ‘directions to’. Then find your house, and click on ‘directions from’. On the left hand side, you can now get directions.

Yahoo has also integrated user reviews into the maps. Reviews written about businesses on local.yahoo.com show the number of stars and reviews for that particular business.

This is a very seamless integration of user reviews and yahoo local direct into their map service.

Yahoo has a definite edge over Google and MSN with maps, local information, user reviews, and allowing users to update/add information. I’ve been very pleased with Yahoo’s ability to ignore the hype around some other products and keep just churning out quality local products.

Chris Sherman has a nice wrapup on the new product.

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