The Maps space sure has been active these past month or so: Rediff has apparently soft-launched Rediff Maps, powered by ML Infomap, a Delhi based Geographical Information Systems service. It’s worth noting that Rediff Maps appears to have data only for India.
At first glance, the maps appear to be quite useful, with several landmarks already identified, the navigation smooth and very very fast…but I’m not sure if it is very accurate. Take a look a the following image:
The location of the Civil Lines Metro station in Delhi is incorrect – it should have been located at the point that I have marked in blue. Secondly, Parmanand Hospital is marked twice in the same area, at two different locations. Rediff Maps and ML Infomap will have to refine their data. In quite a few instances (Versova, Mumbai, for example), there just isn’t enough detail.
Eventually the service with the more accurate data shall prevail; as it is, there is enough competition in the market, and with MapMyIndia, Google Maps, Navteq, Reliance BIG Maps, Nokia Maps and SatNav, Rediff Maps has its work cut out.
Why it’s important
Location is fast becoming a key element of advertising related services, and a users location input adds an additional dimension to a users social graph and profile information. Like we were told in case of Nokia’s Ovi store today, it helps in serving up more relevant recommendations to a user. As these maps also become available on the mobile, a location input available either via triangulation of mobile signals or GPS will allow users to be served advertising that is loation based as well.
We’ve covered the GIS space extensively, of late. Do go through our previous articles:
– MapMyIndia Gets $9M; To Expand Overseas
– On Google Latitude Vs BIG Maps
– Microsoft Launches V2.0 Of Live Search Maps; Monetization Via API
– @Comsnets09: NAVTEQs Marc Naddell On Location Based Service Apps
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6 Comments until now.
I noticed this a couple of days ago, and I haven't been able to see a single tile's worth of map. At max resolution, on both Firefox and IE, I see 'data not available' issues. This might be because my office network is mapped to a Singapore IP, but I don't see the point of restricting map access to just Indian IPs. I'll have to try it at home, I guess. Let's see what happens then.
My observations on REDIFF MAPS :
1. As I arrive on the first page, I see a shrinkage/disorientation in India country polygon. Seems like it is not in the correct shape .. there is a drift in the polygon.
2. Secondly, I saw large green areas in J & K area on the first zoom itself. I checked it with Google earth, google maps and yahoo maps. I don't know how ice got converted to such huge greenery :)
3. For All India road network, I can't find out State Highways and other major roads.
4. Bangalore New Airport is pointing to a wrong location :(
5. IIT Bombay's gymkhana playground is displayed as NCC centre with duplicate names :(
6. Lots of icons are colliding/fighting/overlapping with each other. They need to improve this..otherwise its making a weird sense.
7. .. many more :(
Seems like they are nowhere in competition with Google Maps, Yahoo Maps .. and recently launched Nokia ovi maps. These guys will have to work really hard. Life seems pretty tough for rediff maps.
Chang, this launch of Rediff Maps seems like for testing purpose, otherwise they would have told something about Maps in their press release done yesterday. I think they were aware that their data is still in-accurate, and wanted to correct them using its million users in india & worldwide. User input is on of its way of correcting its data. They have a link called "Feedback" at the top. Quite Clever, haan?
Location and mapping def has a strong future as high speed data gets cheaper and GPS begins to get more integrated and user friendly.
However one of the key things to me would be live traffic services, before i set or while i am en route to know which route to take would be great information but no one seems to be touching up on that for India anywya.
@Sup,
Never heard such a lame excuse .. feel pity on your thoughts :)
@Gaurav,
Live traffic services will be a sure shot area which will distinguish normal map service providers from others. I found two good sites in India which are doing good work in Live traffic OR video based route planning.
Look at these two :
http://www.btis.in
http://www.vidteq.com
chang, is this rediff data is from good resolution imagery? How is it so many people into indian gis data business in india?