Was Google Maps invented in Australia?
Google Maps grew out of technology developed in Sydney by Where 2 Technologies, a start-up founded by Danish brothers Lars and Jens Rasmussen with Australians Noel Gordon and Stephen Ma. Google bought it in 2004.
Where 2 Technologies was working on a map application that let users drag and zoom maps smoothly in a web browser, a big improvement on earlier online maps that reloaded each time.
Google acquired the company in 2004, and the team continued developing the product in Sydney. Google Maps launched in February 2005 and quickly became one of the world's most widely used online services.
Sydney engineering hub
The success of Google Maps helped establish Google's engineering office in Sydney, which went on to work on other products. Lars Rasmussen later led the development of Google Wave.
Google Maps has since added satellite imagery, Street View, public transport directions and real-time traffic, and it is used by billions of people.
The story is often cited as an example of world-leading software being developed in Australia, even though the company was bought by an American tech giant.
Did You Know?
Google Maps' first public version in 2005 covered only the United States.