Tiny Street View clones now rule

Hyderabad: Though the Centre has banned Google’s Street View citing security reasons, there are several apps available that provide digital views of streets in India. Considering Google’s proposal at length for nearly a year, the Union Home ministry and Defence ministry decided to deny permission for the Street View service to operate in the country as it could have serious security implications.

But the Google Play Store is allowing several other apps that are providing street-view services in India, especially in Mumbai and Hyderabad. Apps like WoNoBo (India Street View), Route Navigation by Juacali Tech, Street Panorama View by Mobile Rise, Street Panorama by Mariusz Skonieciny and half-a-dozen others are providing accurate street views of major cities of the country are freely available for Android and iOS phones.

With the Union Government denying permission to Google, all these apps are technically illegal in the country. Freelance app developer Raula Shyam Kumar said that developing street-view apps is a very difficult process.  “Developers move around with specialised cameras and the footage is modified later in panorama style. The panorama style enables a 360-degree view of locations. Finally, the street-views will be integrated into route maps. Most developers adopt Google maps for it,” he said.

Meanwhile, cyber crime consultant for AP and Telangana police, Sandeep Mudhalkar said banning apps was not a simple matter. “The developers are from foreign countries. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or the Union Cabinet should take a decision on the matter,” he said. He said after PM Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, investigative agencies in the country were getting good support from FB in several cases. “Similarly, if the Government looks into the matter, Google may block third-party street-view apps,” he said.