Google has begun its crowd sourcing initiative in India which will help improve its Google Maps service further.
The initiative that has begun in form of a competition, called Google Mapathon 2013, on February 12 involves users adding data to Google Maps via Google Maps maker application. Users can help improve the existing service or can also add newer points of interest to the mapping service. Once the entry is submitted with Google, the entry will be scrutinised and will be added to the mapping data.
Jayanth Mysore, product manager, Google India said, “Google aims to provide better maps for India by building better maps for the users, by the users. Today, citizens across India can participate in this great project through Mapathon 2013.”
Top 1000 contributors to the initiative will stand a chance to win Android tablets, smartphones, gift vouchers and Google merchandise as well. The contest however is one incentive that Google will be giving in to the participants but overall the improvements in the mapping service will reflect in the whole bouquet of services that Google has under the mapping service.
Users can expect the mapping service to improve substantially once the data has been finalised and added to Google Maps. The contest will end on March 25 after which the new data is expected to be added to mapping service in the following months.