Google explains Georgia map blank

Anyone looking for Georgia on Google Maps in recent days to search for further information about the conflict with Russia will have drawn a blank.

Google Maps doesn't currently display cities or roads in Georgia or its neighbours Azerbaijan and Armenia, for the simple reason that the data Google has isn't good enough, the company explained.

"We never launched coverage in those countries because we simply weren't satisfied with the map data we had available," said Dave Barth of Google.

"We're constantly searching for the best map data we can find, and sometimes will delay launching coverage in a country if we think we can get more comprehensive data," Barth continued.

However, feedback the company has received about the blank maps has caused Google to have a rethink.

"We're hearing from our users that they would rather see even very basic coverage of a country than see nothing at all. That certainly makes sense, and so we have started preparing data for the handful of countries that are still blank on Google Maps," said Barth.

Georgia has recently committed itself to a truce in its hostilities with Russia over the disputed South Ossetia region.

However, Georgia said that it had suffered attacks on its web infrastructure, meaning key websites were inaccessible to surfers for several days.

http://maps.google.com