One feature that has been available on Google Maps in the US for a while is “Maps Indoors”. This feature gives the user an indoor floor plan of certain locations. The good news is that this is now available for selected locations here in the UK, no update is needed, simply search for your location and zoom on in.
Google had this to say:
We’re happy to announce that today Google is launching indoor maps for Android devices in the UK. You’ll no longer need to feel clueless when you’re at the railway station, trying to figure out where to buy a coffee before you rush to catch your train from platform 11; nor will you feel embarrassed about asking for the lingerie section when you’re in the department store – because you’ll have all the answers in the palm of your hand.
Locations included are The O2 Arena, Wembley Stadium, The British Museum and Harrods. The full list of locations currently available can be found here.
At the risk of sounding stupid, I thought to use Google Maps one needs to have a satellite fix. Whilst walking around the ground-floor food hall at Harrods you would naturally not be able to achieve a fix – so how can you see your ‘moving’ position on the indoor map???
Obviously have overlooked something here….
i’m sure that google maps also is available offline…?
http://www.coolsmartphone.com/2012/06/28/google-maps-and-many-other-apps-updated-offline-maps-are-go/
@floriank … assisted (GSM) based positioning, and wifi positioning are alive and well 🙂
OK, but I wonder how accurate the positioning will be? Indoors things can be quite tight and going through one hallway or the other can make the difference between getting there or getting lost. I just don’t think triangulation between cell towers or wifi networks could give that kind of accuracy?
However, I think not even Google with their multi-billion dollar cash pile would throw money away on a feature that doesn’t work. I guess I just have to try it and see.
Harrods – here I come 😉
let us know how you get on!!!