Mike Blumenthal alerted me to the fact that Google is now relying exclusively on TeleAtlas for mapping data. Mike has the scoop:
Google Maps has now switched their map data provision completely over to TeleAtlas from Navteq. Now the google Maps, the Google API and the Google Maps for Mobile all use the same underlying data. This switch was only a matter of time given Nokia aquisition of Navteq. Here is the announcement from Google’s Maps Guide Adam:
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to give you a heads up that Google Maps recently made some changes to the map data. Specifically, we have moved Google Maps over to use the same map data from Tele Atlas that is currently used by both the Google Maps API and Google Maps for Mobile. While most of the map will look the same, and in many areas it will improve, there may also be some cases where the data may not be optimal . . .
I know that Google was concerned about the ownership of Navteq by Nokia. And Google recently signed a new deal with TeleAtlas in which the latter gets the benefit of community edits to Google Maps data. I wonder if there was some exclusivity provision in that contract that we’re now seeing play out in this move.
Between the two companies, TeleAtlas was generally regarded as a stronger player in Europe, Navteq the better data source in the US. However, things may have changed.
Screenwerk 
September 19, 2008 at 9:28 pm
The question I had for Mike and the question here, is will that change how centroids are determined and if so will that impact the rankings we see in Google Maps?
I studied this a while ago. I don’t believe there is a single definition of what a centroid point is. Check out google and Yahoo maps and you’ll find different centroid points for cities.
September 19, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Not sure re centroid.
September 20, 2008 at 12:25 am
While it does appear that both maps.google.com and the google maps API now use the same data set, I’m disappointed to see that more addresses are now failing geocode. My own home address can no longer be found on google maps. previously, not only was the geocode for my address spot on, stalkers could even get a glimpse of our garage via streetview. It’s very ungoogle to compromise on quality; so, I wonder as to the real rationale behind the switch.
September 20, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I don’t have any insight beyond speculation into the switch.
September 20, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Keep in mind that now that we have one provider for every product, we can focus our energies on improving the data for all of our products at once (since they have the same base provider). You can look in the Google Maps Help Group for information on correcting geocodes (sometimes its as easy as clicking “edit” in an infowindow).
September 22, 2008 at 9:04 pm
[…] James and Mike and others point out, this appears to be an upshot of the NAVTEQ/Nokia deal. I suspect we’ll see more […]
September 29, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Very un-Google to compromise quality? The Android is yesterday’s technology. Same Chrome. Mac API and it is not available on the MAC yet.
Google is overrated. And it does do evil. It is a big company, don’t forget that.
Peace.
September 30, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I wander if Google really knew the quality difference between TeleAtlas and Navteq before they made the switch.
Many users at various forums and blogs complain and not being now able to find addresses or streets, etc. But this was to be expected (at least in USA and Canada).
October 1, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Have no insight into this question. They may have felt it was comparable and the positives of the exclusive relationship may have trumped the perceived negatives.
October 3, 2008 at 5:18 pm
My apartment was previously listed two buildings down and now it is a bullseye on the roof of the building.
I think it is going to be a case where YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). Some will like it and some won’t just like everything else.
October 14, 2008 at 6:18 pm
This switch is unfortunate for users in Massachusetts. Here, Tele Atlas erroneously lists hundreds of “paper roads”, meaning roads that only exist on paper. These are roads that were roads in the 1800’s when roads were just cart paths, but have since been discontinued as roads. (Now they’re just trails or completely overgrown.) It wasn’t a huge problem for API sites, but now the Google directions will send people down these roads. Blegh.
January 30, 2009 at 12:58 am
Well, TeleAtlas move was not the best in my area. TeleAtlas in Canada is pretty bad. The addresses that used to work with Navteq data is now wrong. It goes from paper roads to wrong city for the street name even if it points at the right place on the map!!! I’m saying wrong city as in “the city they list is 1hour drive from the one the little cursor is on”
I suppose they’ll have to rescan all the areas over again. Tell me about spend twice as much money for what used to work well.
-1 Respect Google.
October 12, 2009 at 2:23 pm
[…] with NAVTEQ, which ended some time after the acquisition of that company by Nokia. TeleAtlas was substituted and there was even an innovative “two-way” relationship in which TeleAtlas was […]
October 12, 2009 at 4:35 pm
[…] approach. Google had been using data from Tele Atlas’ maps since September 2008 after moving away from Navteq’s data after Navteq was acquired by Nokia. Now, Google will use its own data, […]
October 12, 2009 at 4:55 pm
[…] do-it-yourself approach. Google had been using data from TeleAtlas' maps since September 2008 after moving away from Navteq's data after Navteq was acquired by Nokia. Now, Google will use its own data, which it […]
October 12, 2009 at 5:03 pm
[…] approach. Google had been using data from TeleAtlas’ maps since September 2008 after moving away from Navteq’s data after Navteq was acquired by Nokia. Now, Google will use its own data, […]
October 12, 2009 at 6:21 pm
[…] approach. Google had been using data from Tele Atlas’ maps since September 2008 after moving away from Navteq’s data after Navteq was acquired by Nokia. Now, Google will use its own data, […]
October 12, 2009 at 10:03 pm
[…] with NAVTEQ, which ended some time after the acquisition of that company by Nokia. TeleAtlas was substituted and there was even an innovative “two-way” relationship in which TeleAtlas was […]
November 15, 2011 at 10:23 am
pandora jewerly…
[…]Google Maps Bounces Navteq « Screenwerk[…]…
December 5, 2011 at 11:36 am
I have a video that you might be interested in. If you are like me, you are probably interested in automation. With the use of commission robotics, you can have your marketing done for you through complete automation. A series of robots performs important, methodical tasks, one after the other and allows you to focus on other aspects of internet marketing. It is really interesting how all of these little robots work in unison to perform all of these tasks. Even though this is extremely interesting to me, I think that it will be interesting for others as well and so here is the link to the video: http://goo.gl/v8qVq
January 30, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Phpdug…
[…]Google Maps Bounces Navteq « Screenwerk[…]…