Microsoft Launches Streetside, Google Street View Rival (Updated)

*Scroll down for update.*

Microsoft has equipped cars with mapping cameras and turned them loose on the London streets, with Paris and Barcelona to follow.

It's all part of Microsoft's plan to strike at Google in Europe by introducing its own street mapping service, Streetside, as an alternative to Google's controversial Street View mapping program.

A feature of Bing Maps, Streetside gives users a 360-degree ground-level look at public roads and thoroughfares, similar to the view afforded in Google's Street View.

But Streetside's directors are taking several precautions to avoid the potholes Google hit along its mapping tour of Europe.

"We're not setting out to record every street. We believe it is most valuable in urban centres where people want to find services," Bing's U.K. director, Dave Coplin, told BBC News.

Streetside will integrate location-based services and advertisements into its 3D views. For example, when a London user looks up his favorite street, he may see a promotional offer overlaid onto his preferred coffee shop. To make this possible, Streetside's mapping cars will also collect Wi-Fi data as it gathers images.*

Google was recently fined in France for collecting personal data over unsecure networks between 2007 and 2010.

According to a statement made to the BBC, Microsoft claims it will collect only the necessary amount of information to create relevant, interactive maps for urban residents. The Streetside website assures users that Microsoft will notify governmental and non-governmental privacy officials of the locations it plans to map and will also post notices informing residents.

When Streetside comes to Germany, Microsoft will grant residents the option of requesting that their property be blurred before the photos are published.

In 2010, thousands of Germans citizens spoke out against Google's retroactive opt-out policy of blurring photos after they were online. The row prompted German officials to establish a preemptive opt-out standard.

The Streetview website currently touts a similar policy to Google's, though the BBC writes that Microsoft will abide by Germany's opt-out request.

Bing Maps already displays Streetside data in 56 U.S. cities. You can explore this service (here) and read about the steps Microsoft will take to guarantee users' privacy.

*UPDATE: 2:35 p.m. A Bing spokesman contacted The Huffington Post with the following information regarding Wi-Fi data collection: "At this time Bing will not be collecting Wi-Fi data. Bing plans to consult further with regulators and privacy groups before collecting any Wi-Fi information."

Comments

[adam smolkowicz]

07:14 AM on 04/14/2011

Smolkowicz Come on guys when are you going to stop copying each other

[oneyippie]

03:01 PM on 04/13/2011

ah just what we need, more corporations spying on the activities and residences of private citizens. Who needs Big Brother when we have Big CEOs spying on everything?

[man in the middle]

02:05 PM on 04/13/2011

I've never seen the value of "street view". Its a complete waste because it does nothing more than show you something you already expected to see. It does not help in navigation, it does not help in finding whatever.

[GameGuru59]

03:02 PM on 04/13/2011

Yeah...but its just really cool.

[PoorAggressiveOregonian]

07:53 PM on 04/13/2011

I agree.

[Randy Calhoune]

12:33 PM on 04/13/2011

Another area of waste for MicroSoft. They are again late to the party and will spend money in a market already dominated by Google. It would be better for them to spend resources trying innovate in another area, unless of course they have given up mon that prospect.

[jgeurian21]

12:44 PM on 04/13/2011

What an absurd comment. If companies didn't get into established markets where would business and our economy be? MS came into the console market that was dominated by Sony and years later the 360 is the top selling console in the US and the Kinect is setting sales records. Just because another company might dominate a market doesn't mean others shouldn't try. Just ask Apple who has less than 6% global PC market share versus the 90% of MS PC marketshare. By your logic Apple should just give up?!

[man in the middle]

02:06 PM on 04/13/2011

that would make sense if they have some kind of improvement to offer which they don't appear to have

[bandillero]

08:13 PM on 04/13/2011

Don't waste time replying to infantile tards

[iamvalid]

12:13 PM on 04/13/2011

Way to go Ballmer. Right on top of this one, albeit what? Five years late?

Hope it's as successful as Bing:)

[mediamarv]

12:02 PM on 04/13/2011

That's Microsoft... Always the bridesmaid.. never the bride.

Have they ever had an original idea ?
I can't think of one.

[xforever1313]

11:46 PM on 04/13/2011

Kinect

[Silverwolf72]

11:48 AM on 04/13/2011

Were just like Google except we post ads on your results.
Wow sounds like a good reason to use MS Curbside

[J0E1]

11:21 AM on 04/13/2011

But Streetside's directors are taking several precautions to avoid the potholes Google hit along its mapping tour of Europe……Streetside's mapping cars will also collect Wi-Fi data as it gathers images.
 
Uh... correct me if I'm wrong but... wasn't this Googles BIGGEST pothole?

[garumphul]

11:41 AM on 04/13/2011

Yes. However, it's all about what WiFi data you capture. As I understand it, they detect the presence of a WiFi signal, and verify its SSID against a whitelist of SSIDs used by the likes of AT&T or Starbucks so they can map its location.

Google were actively pinging unsecured WiFi routers to gather information about the networks behind thouse routers. That's a *WHOLE* different ball game. That's naughty in the extreme.

[macmanchgo]

11:07 AM on 04/13/2011

Bravo Microsoft, pulling up the rear with other company's innovative ideas once again, then relying on your control of corporate IT departments to deliver the goods, whether anyone wants it or not.

[mediamarv]

12:02 PM on 04/13/2011

Well said!!