Google has unveiled Google Map Maker, a new product that allows users to contribute and edit Maps data for regions around the world.

People can use Google Map Maker to locate, draw, label and provide attributes for local map features via what's being called an easy-to-use tool created by a "labor of love by many engineers based in Bangalore".

Google says tapping local knowledge has the potential to greatly improve the quality of mapping data in the developing world where the collection of data is often neglected - so Google says it is giving people with local knowledge access to an tool to better catalogue their area.

Google Map Maker will initially be available in 18 countries: the Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago), Cyprus, Iceland, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

>> Link - Google LatLong blog