The recent announcement of Google switching to just one map supplier, namely the dutch company TeleAtlas, has caused an increase of alerts on Google Maps errors in the Google Maps Help Groups.
I’ve seen reports so far of incorrect routes, missing cities, wrongly placed addresses, etc, etc. And as Miriam Ellis points out on her blog it can lead to some serious issues. Or take a look at this issue, in Alberta CA, where people might be relying on the maps service as their sole information provider on where to get their services (haha, this is where Yellow Pages must be getting their awesome ROI from 
). The whole switch is causing some glitches, however, the data from the web and the API now seem equal according to some sources. In the past, sometimes the data didn’t correspond because Google was still using Navteq data as well. Now Google is asking the user base of Google Maps to report any errors, or glitches you may have found and report them directly to TeleAtlas by using this link. So now it’s just a matter of time and hopefully Maps Quality will increase. Although TeleAtlas (acquired by TomTom end of July) will have to take the hit to their reputation in the mean while.
With the Google-TeleAtlas agreement, TeleAtlas will have access to Google Maps updates made by the community as well. You can read more on this advantage here.
Google Maps Errors – TeleAtlas data needs some finetuning?
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3 Responses to Google Maps Errors – TeleAtlas data needs some finetuning?
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September 24, 2008
[...] its map data provider for the Google Maps service and already there are lots of reports of errors. Entire towns are missing in Alberta, streets missing in various locations, and oodles of reports of marker locations being off the mark [...]
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About Martijn
I'm Martijn Beijk, Digital Analytix Consultant with comScore. In my sparetime I specialize in Local Search.
My enthusiasm lays in Local & Mobile, including location-based services, context-awareness, semantic web and things as such.
Want to get in touch or hire me? contact me by mail or at Twitter: @martijnbeijk
Hi Martijn,
Saw your pingback in my WordPress. Yes, this is a serious problem going on, and no one really knows how long we may have to wait for error reports to actually be corrected by either TeleAtlas or Navteq. Mike Blumenthal says he’s heard it can take up to 6 months. Not too great, and your joke about Yellow Pages made me laugh. Thanks for covering this issue. It’s really an important one, I think.
Miriam
Hi Martijn,
Saw your pingback in my WordPress. Yes, this is a serious problem going on, and no one really knows how long we may have to wait for error reports to actually be corrected by either TeleAtlas or Navteq. Mike Blumenthal says he’s heard it can take up to 6 months. Not too great, and your joke about Yellow Pages made me laugh. Thanks for covering this issue. It’s really an important one, I think.
Miriam