New Google Maps Will Navigate Indoors

The next generation of Google’s map software will be able to navigate people around shopping centres and airports.

Click to enlarge

Google Maps turned six last month and Google is celebrating by releasing an update that’ll enable the GPS to navigate people indoors. 

The update will generate detailed floor plans of a building, strip away irrelevant outdoor data and can determine which floor of a building you’re on. It’ll pinpoint your location within metres thanks to its traditional outdoor mapping method being fine tunned.

The Mapping system will be capable of working in airports, train stations and shopping centres, but at present is only available in the US and Japan, in areas including:

• Mall of America, IKEA, The Home Depot, select Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, Daimaru, Takashimaya and Mitsukoshi locations and more. Watch an IKEA demo here.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Narita International (NRT), among others.
• JR and Tokyu Corporation

Screen shots of the software at work indicate it is running on Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich.

Unfortunately, Google’s representative wasn’t able to provide an immediate comment, but we will keep you posted on any future updates.