Can't Find the Bathroom? Just Ask Google

Looking ahead, the most enticing possibilities for Google's new indoor mapping technology involve advertising support, suggested tech analyst Greg Sterling. "I could imagine over time you'd see things like images of product inventory or deals associated with particular stores," he predicted. It's also likely that Google will eventually move the functionality beyond the Android version to Google Maps online.Users of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Maps are already accustomed to relying on the technology for directions to places like the airport or mall, but now they can also use it for help getting around inside once they've arrived.

 

Google Maps 6.0 for Android, which was released on Tuesday, now gives mobile users a way to determine where they are inside a large building and how to get where they need to go.
"When you're inside an airport, shopping mall or retail store, a common way to figure out where you are is to look for a freestanding map directory or ask an employee for help," explained Brian McClendon, vice president of engineering for Google Earth and Maps, in a blog post announcing the new capability. "Starting today, that directory is brought to the palm of your hands."
The new feature requires Android 2.1 or later. The video below explains the premise in further detail.