They brought us one of the best map services on the internet – for free – and now they are looking to make that journey from A to B even simpler with the introduction of street photographs to show you exactly where you need to go to. So how will it work?

Using the current Google Map system it is very easy to request a route planner, just enter your starting point and your finishing point and Google will do the rest. The text and map based directions are very useful and millions of people are using them on a regular basis, but would you actually like to see the area that you are passing by? The turn offs that you need to take?

Google are currently building up a major database of street photographs in the UK, and while it will take some time to complete, the end product should be amazing. Not only will you be able to receive detailed text and map directions to the destination of your choice but you will also be able to see a photograph of each street as you check out the route.

While Google are not the first company to offer this service, they will be the first to offer the service free of charge. This new service has the potential to have a major impact on others in the industry who do not have the firepower of Google to make the service available free of charge. However, it does open up the chance of future partnership deals for Google – something which will see them cement their growing position in yet another market place!

Is no market safe from the gaze of Google? What next for the might search engine giant?

Nobody quite knows what to expect next with Google, but the journey from day one to where we are now has been anything but boring!