Yahoo! introduces maps in local languages with walking directions

Internet company Yahoo! has introduced maps in India in local languages and with walking directions, as a part of its localisation strategy. The Yahoo! India Maps will be available in nine Indian languages including Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Malayalam and Punjabi.

The walking directions can be sent to a mobile phone as an SMS. Besides providing key landmarks along the route (ATMs, hospitals, etc.), the directions on walking also provide clarity on every major turn, the company said in a statement.

"For the first time in India, walking directions and maps in local languages are being introduced by Yahoo! India. This aligns well with Yahoo! India's overall strategy of enabling more users to experience the Internet on a PC or mobile," Gopal Krishna, Head of Audience, Yahoo! India said.

Yahoo! India users can search for directions across 179 cities, 4,767 towns, and 2,26,114 villages.