Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Maps has featured interior floor plans for airports, malls and other popular spots since quite some time now. However, this feature is only available on Android mobile operating system. Now, Google is rolling out the same feature on desktops. This comes at a time when Black Friday shoppers still have time to plan their trip to mall before leaving their homes.
As of now, the functionality included nearly 10,000 floor plans for select destinations in Canada, Japan, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, the UK, the US, France and Switzerland. The complete listing of availability of indoor maps is available on Google support page along with an option for all users to suggest a floor plan of a public location.
In order to bring up a floor plan, all one needs to do is to zoom into a building on Maps. After the data has been uploaded, users will be able to check stores within a mall, sections within a department store or supermarket, the gate plan of an airport and much more. One can even find blackjack tables inside a casino bar.
The functionality is more helpful on a smartphone but it is indeed an impressive addition to have on desktops. This also implies that the users using other platforms like iOS, will be able to go through the web version of Google Maps from their handsets and access floor plans while being on the go. Currently, however, the desktop version is restricted to the main floor of buildings whereas with the Android mobile app, users can view multiple levels of buildings.
It is interesting to note that this update comes shortly after the launch of high resolution imagery of Google Maps and Earth service. The update introduces high resolution aerial and satellite view for a number of new locations and 45 degree image for scores of locales across the world.