Google launches in Romania Google Maps navigation for handsets

Newsroom 28/06/2011 | 16:23

Google has launched in Romania the Google Maps (Beta) navigation service for mobile phones. Those who wish to use the service, which is free of charge, need to have a smartphone with GPS and Android operating system, and mobile internet.

“This new service comes with whatever one would expect to find in a GPS navigation system- 3D view, voice guiding and instant re-directioning,” says Dan Bulucea, country manager in Google Romania.

The navigation offers access to the most recent version of Google Maps (that are also updated with the help of the users). There are various visualisation ways- map, street view and satellite view.

Bulucea said Google acquires maps from specialized providers, but also makes its own maps in some cases. Additionally, it also receives feedback from users in Romania.

Summing up his activity in Google Romania so far, Bulucea said: “Since the opening of the office, the focus has been to create a team and tighten bonds with our clients and partners. The idea is to take Romania out of a waiting list and speed up those launches of products that are relevant for Romanians,” he said.

“Revenues come from targeted advertising. It is a business model that allows companies to promote themselves when users are searching for a certain service,” said Bulucea. “I think the online will grow much more aggressively and will become the second advertising medium in Romania,” he added.

According to a study by GlobalStats quoted by Bulucea, the segment of smartphones represents approximately 25 percent of the total number of mobile phones sold in Romania.