Google Street View to showcase indoor locations

An interesting update is all set to come to Google's popular Street View maps. The service, which currently allows users to view landmarks and other outdoor points in and around their locations complete with a 360-degree angle imagery, will now allow users to look inside shops, thereby taking the outdoor-only service indoors. According to a BBC report, Google has introduced, what it calls its 'pilot project', allowing popular businesses like coffee shops, restaurants, gyms, among others to have images of their interiors showcased on Google's Street View maps.

An indoor imagery using Google Street View

Google's Street View service, although popular since its inception, faced considerable flak when users accused it of intruding into their privacy. Bearing this in mind, Google states that the update is purely voluntary. The report further adds that Google believes that businesses can benefit from these indoor imageries, since it would help them highlight what they're good at. Google, however, has asked businesses to inform their customers before the actual photoshoot commences.

Google is going step-by-step with this project. The initial roll-out, according to the report will only be to users in London, Paris and few cities in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the US.