Google has filed for a patent in India, for a map based local search application. This appears to essentially be a patent for Google Local on Mobile, a service launched in 2005, and subsequently renamed/replaced by Google Maps for mobile.
The patent was filed in India on June 6th 2008, and you may view the details of the original patent at WIPO (here), or download the patent document (PDF) here. Using the application, users can zoom in into a map, and be provided with local business search results, directions for a travel route. Interestingly, the maps service can also include a click to call facility.
Not yet in the list above is Navteq which Nokia had acquired for $8.1 billion last year. Once Navteq becomes a part of the Ovi platform, I think it will emerge as a serious challenge for the likes of Google Maps and MapMyIndia. At the same time, from the operators side, we’ve heard some interesting things about Reliance’s yet-to-be-launched BIG Maps service.
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3 Comments until now.
Nikhil, Liked the fact that you’ve dug deep to present all the appropriate links.
Somehow the pdf link is not working. If you could help me in procuring this PDF?
While you have pointed it right that BIG Maps should be cooking something interesting and that Nokia-Navteq will give good challenge to Google in India, the data aggregators like JustDial/AskLaila with an LBS platform/partnership can still do wonders.
Nikhil,
What do yo think about the prospects of MapmyIndia guven stiff competition from Navteq, Google and nowBIG Maps from Reliance? MapmyIndia was the first one tgo start out India mapping and have an early mover advantage and some good deals in India with Ford, GM, etc. What is your take on this industry in India and Mapmyindia specifically?
It need to be seen whether Indian Patent Office will grant Patent to this as Business Methods (which I believe is the category of this Patent) cannot be Patented in India.