Home › Laptop GPS Software › Google Maps: Navteq Out, Tele Atlas In
Google Maps is no longer using Navteq data in the US and Canada, as of today. Try it. You'll be shocked at how bad the Tele Atlas data is (with a few exceptions). My area has now dropped down to base TIGER coverage, complete with mislabeled roads.
Yet another reason to use Laptop GPS software. The maps live on your own hard drive, so you aren't at the mercy of a web site which decided to save a few million bucks.
Yet another reason to use Laptop GPS software. The maps live on your own hard drive, so you aren't at the mercy of a web site which decided to save a few million bucks.
Tao, do you have a link? I searched, but I couldn't find any press release or an article saying Google Maps was no longer using Navteq.
Tele Atlas has improved it's USA/Canada data quality over the last few years, but still Navteq is superior. I hear that TeleAtlas has better reputation among users in Europe, though.
The switch from Navteq to Teleatlas would not make me very happy, if I had to use the product as a GPS navigation tool. But as an on-line map product, perhaps quality is not as crucial (or is it?).
I've tried products based on Teleatlas map data. In my limited use I found more map errors and omissions, and routing quality not as good in comparison to products based on Navteq map data.
Having said that, competition is good, and if Google in fact abandoned Navteq, then it could be another motivating factor for TA to again put more effort into USA/Canada data quality.
Tele Atlas has improved it's USA/Canada data quality over the last few years, but still Navteq is superior. I hear that TeleAtlas has better reputation among users in Europe, though.
The switch from Navteq to Teleatlas would not make me very happy, if I had to use the product as a GPS navigation tool. But as an on-line map product, perhaps quality is not as crucial (or is it?).
I've tried products based on Teleatlas map data. In my limited use I found more map errors and omissions, and routing quality not as good in comparison to products based on Navteq map data.
Having said that, competition is good, and if Google in fact abandoned Navteq, then it could be another motivating factor for TA to again put more effort into USA/Canada data quality.
Tao, you were right. I'm just checking my morning email, and Google Alerts brought me several links to the story. Here's one:
Source: Navteq Out, TeleAtlas In
Quote:
Google Maps has now switched their map data provision completely over to TeleAtlas from Navteq. Now the Google Maps, the Google API and the Google Maps for Mobile all use the same underlying data. This switch was only a matter of time given Nokia acquisition of Navteq
I just google mapped Mare Island (SF bay area) where I work and there's all kinds of roads shown that aren't there now (may have been during WWII) and roads not shown that are there. Comparing the sat view to the map is a joke.
Near my house a road is shown that hasn't been there for at least 20 years, probably longer. People are going to get lost using this.
Distressing.
Near my house a road is shown that hasn't been there for at least 20 years, probably longer. People are going to get lost using this.
Distressing.
Google Maps user happiness survey
via: http://blumenthals.com/blog/2008/09/...mb-complaints/
Quote:
In response to the many changes that Google has made of late in Maps, Google is once again surveying some Map users (Survey URL) with questions as to speed of the service, quality of data and customer service level satisfaction.
Hi All
It will be interesting to see how long it is for TeleAtlas to get this squared away for Google. Certainly, the pressure is on both TA and Google to do so given how high of a profile Google Map’s plays.
I would love to hear from someone who tracks a specific TeleAtlas/Google Map failing to see how long it does take for the changes to flow through. If it is the standard 6 months, Google’s rep will suffer a great deal in that timeframe.
It was general wisdom in the industry that Navteq had better data in the US and TeleAtlas had better data in Europe. If that is the case, one has to think that in this transition Google negotiated for TeleAtlas to provide a speedier response than 6 months to the bad data.
Mike
It will be interesting to see how long it is for TeleAtlas to get this squared away for Google. Certainly, the pressure is on both TA and Google to do so given how high of a profile Google Map’s plays.
I would love to hear from someone who tracks a specific TeleAtlas/Google Map failing to see how long it does take for the changes to flow through. If it is the standard 6 months, Google’s rep will suffer a great deal in that timeframe.
It was general wisdom in the industry that Navteq had better data in the US and TeleAtlas had better data in Europe. If that is the case, one has to think that in this transition Google negotiated for TeleAtlas to provide a speedier response than 6 months to the bad data.
Mike
Hi Mike,
:welcome: to Laptop GPS World.
I suspect 6 months would not do it, no matter how hard TeleAtlas would try. But I do hope that TA will now be more motivated, and they will put more vehicles and people on the roads in the USA and Canada. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
In the meantime Microsoft may have easier time winning customers for Live Maps .
:welcome: to Laptop GPS World.
I suspect 6 months would not do it, no matter how hard TeleAtlas would try. But I do hope that TA will now be more motivated, and they will put more vehicles and people on the roads in the USA and Canada. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
In the meantime Microsoft may have easier time winning customers for Live Maps .
TeleAtlas could look at Navteq maps...
Nah, that would be too easy.
Nah, that would be too easy.
@Marvin
Are you saying you don't think that TA can gather that much missing data in 6 months? You are probably right about that. It will be interesting to see which areas they do first and how soon that is and then how soon the gaps are...Is TeleAtlas data in Europe better than the US?
@PetalumaLoco
Not a bad idea. How would anyone know where it came from?
If you do happen to notice that the missing/bad data finally does show up for your island, I would love to hear about it.
Mike
Are you saying you don't think that TA can gather that much missing data in 6 months? You are probably right about that. It will be interesting to see which areas they do first and how soon that is and then how soon the gaps are...Is TeleAtlas data in Europe better than the US?
@PetalumaLoco
Not a bad idea. How would anyone know where it came from?
If you do happen to notice that the missing/bad data finally does show up for your island, I would love to hear about it.
Mike
I'll keep an occasional eye out, there are a couple of roads near my house that show on the map that aren't really there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mblumenthal
@Marvin
Are you saying you don't think that TA can gather that much missing data in 6 months? You are probably right about that. It will be interesting to see which areas they do first and how soon that is and then how soon the gaps are...Is TeleAtlas data in Europe better than the US?
@PetalumaLoco
Not a bad idea. How would anyone know where it came from?
If you do happen to notice that the missing/bad data finally does show up for your island, I would love to hear about it.
Mike
Are you saying you don't think that TA can gather that much missing data in 6 months? You are probably right about that. It will be interesting to see which areas they do first and how soon that is and then how soon the gaps are...Is TeleAtlas data in Europe better than the US?
@PetalumaLoco
Not a bad idea. How would anyone know where it came from?
If you do happen to notice that the missing/bad data finally does show up for your island, I would love to hear about it.
Mike
If TeleAtlas is anything like Navteq and other map data suppliers they will have quarterly updates available for any customers who wish to take advantage of them. The GPS manufacturers don't use them because they usually only release new versions of their maps annually. Google probably takes advantage of updates as quickly as they are available.
...ken...
...ken...
In google's case I would presume that they would do so as frequently as the information is available. In addition it is my understanding that TeleAtlas has access to all of Google's reports and end user edits with additional data and corrections. Long haul it is a powerful mechanism.
Short haul however, the results have been quite disastrous, at least in the US & Canada, where whole counties and provinces have very outdated or erroneous content leading to a number of end user complaints in Google Groups.
Along with recently reported hijackings of business listings in Google Maps, the sudden appearances of widespread map errors has been a p.r. black eye for Google.
Tough month for them all in all.
Short haul however, the results have been quite disastrous, at least in the US & Canada, where whole counties and provinces have very outdated or erroneous content leading to a number of end user complaints in Google Groups.
Along with recently reported hijackings of business listings in Google Maps, the sudden appearances of widespread map errors has been a p.r. black eye for Google.
Tough month for them all in all.
That's the trouble when we use a beta product. Not enough analysis and testing before changes go live.
.......Oh. Wait. ..... ALL Google's products are beta!!!
...ken...
.......Oh. Wait. ..... ALL Google's products are beta!!!
...ken...
The Google - Teleatlas marriage lasted less then 13 months. For the U.S. geographical area, Google is now using the combination of free map data and Google's own map data. Has anyone checked their neighborhood for errors? I suspect it may be at the Teleatlas quality level (not as good as Navteq).
Hey, the phantom roads near me are gone now! That's an improvement.
As an added plus, I can see where they've "grayed in" the old defunct railroad bed near here. That didn't show up on previous maps, and isn't all all clear on sat photos (the rails have long been removed, and in some cases the roadbed incorporated as grazing land).
As an added plus, I can see where they've "grayed in" the old defunct railroad bed near here. That didn't show up on previous maps, and isn't all all clear on sat photos (the rails have long been removed, and in some cases the roadbed incorporated as grazing land).