The UK arm of Ask Jeeves has launched two new services that provide you with online maps and travel directions.

Powered by technology from mapping data firm Navteq, the services let you type a street name or postcode into the search field to get a map of the desired area. You can also zoom in or out to get their preferred scale. Meanwhile, the directions link provides driving or walking directions between a selected start point and destination.

Ask Jeeves has launched the service because a recent survey by YouGov revealed that 36 per cent of the people asked were not able to read a map properly and have even come close to missing out on a hot date or big meeting as a result. Worse still, a further 7 per cent don't turn up at all, suggesting map reading isn't a strength for most people.

'Despite the fact that 66 per cent of those surveyed claimed to read maps regularly, the time-stretched traveller still gets baffled when faced with your average A-Z,' said Ask Jeeves VP of European product development Tony Macklin.

'Having hectic lives often means back-to-back appointments, and more opportunities to lose your way. Offering concise online directions for even the least map-literate individual just makes life easier.'

Ask Jeeves will compete with Google's Maps, although the former is much more powerful and has a more attractive graphical display.

BIOS, Aug 26, 05 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Internet