Google charts a careful course through Asia's maps

Google rushed out its panoramic Street View maps in Thailand on Friday as part of the country's efforts to show tourist hot spots have recovered from last year's floods. But it also marked something of a change of fortunes for Google itself, which has weathered several storms in Asia over its mapping products. Google rolled out 360-degree images of the streets of Bangkok, the resort island of Phuket and the northern city of Chiang Mai. Street View allows users to click through a seamless view of streets via the company's Google Maps website. Google plans to use a tricycle-mounted camera to photograph places that can't be reached by car, such as parks and monuments.

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