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Microsoft launches StreetView rival in Europe | Microsoft launches StreetView rival in Europe |
(40 minutes later) | |
Microsoft is launching its own version of Google's StreetView - dubbed Streetside - across Europe. | Microsoft is launching its own version of Google's StreetView - dubbed Streetside - across Europe. |
Cars fitted with cameras have begun taking pictures around London and will start mapping major cities on the continent next month. | Cars fitted with cameras have begun taking pictures around London and will start mapping major cities on the continent next month. |
The service is already available in 56 US towns and cities. | The service is already available in 56 US towns and cities. |
Microsoft has been keen to avoid the privacy concerns that dogged Google's service but said that it does plan to gather wi-fi data. | Microsoft has been keen to avoid the privacy concerns that dogged Google's service but said that it does plan to gather wi-fi data. |
Initially, Streetside will be on a smaller scale than Streetview, according to the company's director of search, Dave Coplin. | Initially, Streetside will be on a smaller scale than Streetview, according to the company's director of search, Dave Coplin. |
"We're not setting out to record every street. We believe it is most valuable in urban centres where people want to find services," he told BBC News. | "We're not setting out to record every street. We believe it is most valuable in urban centres where people want to find services," he told BBC News. |
Wi-fi data | Wi-fi data |
Microsoft's ultimate aim was to combine Streetside with location-based services, Mr Coplin explained. | Microsoft's ultimate aim was to combine Streetside with location-based services, Mr Coplin explained. |
To do that, it needed to collect wi-fi data, such as the unique number that identifies the location of a hotspot.=, the signal strength and the type of wireless signal being used. That information would be used to help locate users. | |
Google ran into trouble with privacy groups while creating Streetview after it emerged the company intercepted and stored private information from some hotspots. | Google ran into trouble with privacy groups while creating Streetview after it emerged the company intercepted and stored private information from some hotspots. |
Google apologised for the "mistake" which it blamed on rogue coding. | Google apologised for the "mistake" which it blamed on rogue coding. |
The incident led to investigations around the globe and forced the search giant to make radical changes to its privacy policies. | The incident led to investigations around the globe and forced the search giant to make radical changes to its privacy policies. |
By contrast Microsoft said that it would collect the "bare minimum" of data. | By contrast Microsoft said that it would collect the "bare minimum" of data. |
It has already started taking street level photographs, however the wi-fi scanning portion of the process is currently on hold until the company refines its strategy. | It has already started taking street level photographs, however the wi-fi scanning portion of the process is currently on hold until the company refines its strategy. |
"We took the decision to postpone wi-fi data collection. We'd like to do it the right way," said Dave Coplin. | "We took the decision to postpone wi-fi data collection. We'd like to do it the right way," said Dave Coplin. |
Opt out | Opt out |
Another issue which dogged Google in its roll-out of StreetView was whether to allow users to opt out. | Another issue which dogged Google in its roll-out of StreetView was whether to allow users to opt out. |
Some residents complained that they could only ask for their property to be removed from the service after pictures went live. | Some residents complained that they could only ask for their property to be removed from the service after pictures went live. |
In Germany, authorities were reported to be considering legal action against the Google. | In Germany, authorities were reported to be considering legal action against the Google. |
In the end, they secured the right of householders to opt out of Streetview, having their homes and businesses pixelated before the service went live. | In the end, they secured the right of householders to opt out of Streetview, having their homes and businesses pixelated before the service went live. |
250,000 Germans decided to do this. | 250,000 Germans decided to do this. |
As a result, the country introduced a code of practice, meaning all similar services, including Streetside, will have to abide by the same rule. | As a result, the country introduced a code of practice, meaning all similar services, including Streetside, will have to abide by the same rule. |
But Microsoft will not be offering the opt-out to people in other countries. | But Microsoft will not be offering the opt-out to people in other countries. |
"It came up in our discussions with privacy bodies but the opt-out service was not something high on their list of priorities," said Mr Coplin. | |
Microsoft said it had consulted with data protection authorities and privacy bodies such as Privacy International throughout the development of Streetside. | Microsoft said it had consulted with data protection authorities and privacy bodies such as Privacy International throughout the development of Streetside. |
"Privacy is imbued in everything we do," said Mr Coplin. | "Privacy is imbued in everything we do," said Mr Coplin. |
It will notify the public about the service ahead of pictures being taken, using advertisements that will include a helpline number and website where people can get more information. | It will notify the public about the service ahead of pictures being taken, using advertisements that will include a helpline number and website where people can get more information. |
Location and advertising | Location and advertising |
When Streetside goes live on Microsoft's mobile platforms, including its Windows phones, it will combine with so-called blockview technology which allows images to be flattened out and overlaid with metadata. | When Streetside goes live on Microsoft's mobile platforms, including its Windows phones, it will combine with so-called blockview technology which allows images to be flattened out and overlaid with metadata. |
That information will be used to offer contextual advertising and other localised information, said Mr Coplin. | That information will be used to offer contextual advertising and other localised information, said Mr Coplin. |
"When the majority of people have a smartphone and mobile broadband is completely stable, services such as Foursquare, Groupon and other local services will all come together, offering local services and localised advertisements," he said. | "When the majority of people have a smartphone and mobile broadband is completely stable, services such as Foursquare, Groupon and other local services will all come together, offering local services and localised advertisements," he said. |
Unlike Google, Microsoft does not have ambitions to map every street in the world. | Unlike Google, Microsoft does not have ambitions to map every street in the world. |
It should mean the service avoids some of the most bizarre events captured by StreetView. | It should mean the service avoids some of the most bizarre events captured by StreetView. |
Those included a naked man climbing into the boot of his car in Germany and images of dead bodies on a street in Rio de Janeiro, which Google was forced to remove shortly after the service went live in South America. | Those included a naked man climbing into the boot of his car in Germany and images of dead bodies on a street in Rio de Janeiro, which Google was forced to remove shortly after the service went live in South America. |