Search giant Baidu is launching its Maps feature outside of China for the first time, supported by location tech firm HERE.
The roll out supports the Chinese firm’s recent expansion of coverage to Europe and the rest of the world.
HERE has already powered Baidu Maps’ desktop and mobile services in South East Asia outside of China for the last two years. Now they have extended to more than 150 countries worldwide.
Baidu Maps has more than 350 million active users globally, and is expanding its map service to accommodate the growing number of Chinese visitors to Europe and other parts of the world outside of Asia, along with the increasing demand for high quality map data across the globe.
HERE has mapped around 200 countries and makes millions of changes to its map every day using data collected from vehicles, cartographers, and tens of thousands of other sources.
“People rely on HERE to travel to new places and explore the world,” said Bruno Bourguet, SVP and Head of Sales and Business Development at HERE. “We are excited that this extended agreement with Baidu will help a growing number of travellers and tourists, particularly from China, plan their trips and find their way to more countries and places than ever before.”
Baidu Maps is a comprehensive maps application that includes features such as local search, travel information, bookings, and reviews, both inside and outside of China.