Google China’s Mashup Map Service Helps Stranded Travelers

China is suffering the worst winter weather in over 50 years, stranding millions of travelers who are trying to make it home in time for Chinese New Year. With railways suspending service and many highways impassable, travelers are looking for a reliable and up-to-date source of the latest weather and transportation news.

Quick to respond, Google China has released a mashup map service that combines the latest information on weather and transportation with an easy to use interface. Users are encouraged to email any new information they have to Google, who will then update the system.

While the initiative is a great idea and the Google China team should be applauded for it, we’re curious to see how much use it will actually get. The vast majority of the Chinese New Year travelers are migrant workers who rarely use PCs let alone know the Google name. If Google could somehow find a way to create an updated weather and transportation offering for the mobile phone (the primary way migrant workers access the Internet), the impact may match the loftiness of their intentions.

[via China Web 2.0 Review]