I want Google map for Israel now!

i have decided to open this blog to people who wish to contribute. The following post has been written by Arnon Kohavi, is co-founder of WeFi, a wifi company that uses maps.  He is in the process of starting his second company, also based on map mash-ups. When he suggested the idea i hooked right away since, if you live in israel like me, i think it is really relevant. Judge for yourself

Why are there Google/Yahoo/Microsoft maps for most of the developed world and not for Israel? Yes, Israel is a small country, and everyone thinks they know how to get to everywhere, but map mash-ups are much more than about finding directions; it is about personalizing maps, sharing them and adding tools developed by 3rd parties.  Many of us geo-tag our flickr photos  but we can’t geo-tag in Israel to street level, like we can in Paris, because there are no yahoo maps for Israel.

The Where 2.0 conferences held in San Jose demonstrates the huge interest in map mash-up development.

In Israel, companies that control the map database have failed to open it up for free use and charge a lot of money from developers, which explains why there are so few map mash-ups in Israel. Google, on the other side, now allows developers to post content, and for users to add it to “their maps”  - all for free!

Isn’t it about time that Israel adapts the Web 2.0 model for maps and allows start-up, users and developers free access to maps like the rest of the world? It is not only good for consumers; it is crucial for the growth of expertise in mapping that will help Israeli start-ups succeed worldwide, where map mash-up is common practice. Google, are you coming?

Ouriel's addition: there are several rumors that Google israel is working on a local version of Google Maps. I can't wait. I really look forward also to a better representation of Israel in Google Earth also (putting away any security consideration)

Technorati Tags: israel, maps, Google, local

Comments

[omer rosen]

It is about time someone will do it. I am sick of seeing my hometown marked as a field of oranges instead of what it is (a small town with fields of oranges :- ) )

[Herve]

A limited coverage of Israel is required for sure. But I wouldn't like all the Israeli sensitive data to be over exposed to the rest of world...

[alon]

There is a fundamental problem with free internet services in Israel, and it is the business model. In the US it is frowned upon, but it works. Ads pay. Users click on ads and pay for goods and services. It doesn't work in Israel because the postal service is defunct. In many places you don't even get letters mailed to your door, not to mention parcels. Same for sending.

[arnon]

Actually maps do exist for Israel, but they are controlled by several companies who do not believe in "open" and "free" access for developers. Before Google opened up its map API, it was the same thing in the US. It is time that these companies change their practices or for new players like Yahoo or Google to come in and change the rules.

[Harry]

I for one cannot wait. I've been working on a cityguide for Jerusalem for the past year and have been holding out, desperately waiting for google maps Israel.

[Steve]

I am worried that Google Earth might be dangerous for America, but certainly for Israel there are security concerns that must be taken into account.

[jon burg]

Google Maps for Israel would be great! Particularly if they can finally nail down all those dirt roads and one lane highways I get tend to get lost on! My parent's have been looking for an accurate GPS system for Israel but have found that they are all out of date. This would be a LIFESAVER for them!

[Marc]

Could Israeli maps be held due to national security reasons ?

[arnon]

Guys, there is no security issues, because several Israeli companies like Atlas CT offer maps for Israel FOR MONEY. The point is to open the API's to get to use it for free. Today Google announced more countries in google maps but still no Israel. Here is the list of the added countries: Afghanistan, Aruba, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Mongolia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

[Liron]

Ouriel,

From what I understand, the main hurdle with integrating street-level maps of Israel into google is based on security considerations. These restrictions aren't allowing aerial maps of Israel to be released in which one pixel represents less than 2 meters.

[ouriel]

street level is not a security problem. other like atlasct or emap.co.il already do it