SA suburbs to go global

Johannesburg - Want to see what that property in Camps Bay looks like without having to get out of your pyjamas? Or see if parking is available at that restaurant you want to try?

Google Street View will be available in South Africa soon, allowing users a 360 degree street level view of all major cities in the country.

Street View cars will be seen in Johannesburg within weeks, collecting data that will be used to compile a three dimensional map of the city's streets.

This "massively expensive gift" will be ready before the 2010 Fifa World Cup, said Stephen Newton, country manager of Google SA in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"Football fans around the world will either wish they were here, or be on their way," said Roshene Singh, chief marketing officer at SA Tourism about the initiative.

One of only a dozen countries with Street View, South Africa will be mapped using millions of photographs. It will offer a useful tool for tourists accustomed to using Google Maps in Europe and the US, and locals who want to avoid any "dodgy looking" areas on their way to a Sunday lunch.

According to Google it wants to ensure that South Africans can make good use of the application after 2010.

The internet giant has been updating its South African maps data since February. However, the going has been slow with limited information available regarding street addresses and business locations.

"It's very important for us to bring localised content to local communities," said Newton.

Street View promotes small businesses, said Google. By supplying contact details and showing the shop front, businesses receive more exposure to a burgeoning internet savvy generation.

- Fin24.com