Mountain View (CA) – Google’ Street View is adding support for more major mobile platforms: Following its debut on Android debut as well as versions for the iPhone and BlackBerry, Google is now offering the feature for Nokia S60 and Windows Mobile devices.Google also said it is in the process of expanding the list of international cities where Street View images are available.Google initially launched Street View as a feature exclusive to the first Android-powered G1 handset from T-Mobile. It was unique to the platform back then, serving as a system-seller feature of the Android G1. However, the company soon allowed Apple to add Street Level to the updated Maps iPhone application that came as part of 2.2 firmware, in addition to a Google Maps client for Blackberry.
The latest update of the Google Maps client extends support to the Nokia S60 and Windows Mobile platforms. The company suggests owners of these devices download an updated Maps client (v2.3) at google.com/gmm to enable Street View on their phones."Say you're going to meet with friends at an unfamiliar restaurant. Now you can search for it in Google Maps for mobile, click on 'Street View', and see what the place and surrounding area look like," the company stated in a blog post. "Similarly, say you need to get to a shop in a part of town you don't know. Find it using your phone, get directions to it, and see how to get there with full-screen panorama images of every step along the way."Google will give Street View more global exposure by adding street-level views of several new international cities in France, Italy, Spain and Australia as Nokia- and Windows Mobile-handsets are particularly popular in these countries.
Besides Street View support, the updated version of Google Maps for the two platforms also adds other new features like walking and driving directions. Also new is the capability to receive transit alerts from certain public transportation authorities and the publication of a variety of reviews from other users on the go.
