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Google Street View goes mobile
Maps on the move… but not for iPhones

By Stephen Shankland

Published: Thursday 18 September 2008

Street View endows Google Maps with a driver's-eye view of the world, and now people actually on the street will be able to use it, too.

The company announced a new version of its Google Maps for Mobile software that includes support for Street View, as well as walking directions and reviews of businesses. Google said the new version is faster too.

The new features work on BlackBerrys with colour screens and on mobile devices with Java abilities. However, visiting the Google site with an iPhone produces this message: "Sorry, Google Maps does not work on your Apple iPhone".

The move isn't a surprise. Google demonstrated Street View on a phone using the company's Android operating system in May, hooked into the phone's hardware so the view would change according to which way the user oriented the phone. The Android phones are due to be announced 23 Sept.

The Google Mobile blog now has some details and an explanatory video.

The Street View option is enabled when you click on an area; after a pause the software tells you whether Street View is available, and clicking the option overlays a small Street View window on top of the map. Using the scroll wheel pans the view left or right, again with some waiting on the network.