A sample page of the Yahoo! Kimo Life+ Map service

Google has announced the launch of a version of Google Maps supporting a traditional Chinese language interface, while Yahoo! has also announced the launch of an advanced version of its Yahoo! Kimo (Yahoo! Taiwan) Life+ Map platform, both providing online location-based search information and digital maps.

In addition to all the functions available from Google Maps, the Taiwan version provides two exclusive functions: real-time video traffic information on freeways around Taiwan and instant information on government-built parking spaces in Taipei City, according to director Lee-feng Chien for Google's Taiwan Engineering Research Center.

The map-based search service is also available for mobile devices supporting Java 2 Platform Micro Edition (J2ME), Windows Mobile 5.0 or 6.0 and color Blackberry handsets, Google Taiwan pointed out. The Taiwan version can be integrated with GPS solutions or devices, Google Taiwan indicated.

Yahoo! Kimo Life+ Map features IP positioning enabling the platform to automatically recognize the location of a user based on their IP address, according to the company. Additionally, the platform provides information on the latitude and longitude of a place of interest to facilitate use with GPS devices, Yahoo! Kimo pointed out.