Mashups are great, they combine the best of multiple applications and make for a more versatile and convenient user experience. The latest map-mashup to hit the iPhone brings together the convenience on local search, Google Maps, and City Guides. Enter Schmap.
Directing your iPhone Safari browser to www.schmap.com takes you to your Schmap homepage, where you can choose to browse through “City Guides” broken down by categories (restaurants, shopping, etc.) or search for local businesses in your area. Great, there are a lot of map-services on the web that do the same thing. Right?
Well, not exactly. Schmaps offers iPhone users a unique way to browse through their “City Guides.” With the iPhone in portrait orientation, Schmaps presents a list of local businesses. But, turn the iPhone into the landscape (horizontal) orientation and Schmap will rotate the screen and list the businesses next to a map showing the location of each business. It really is trick.
Schmap’s local search function is currently unavailable as the service is still in beta development. In fact, the service is closed to the public, but we’ve got the hook up. Point your iPhone to www.schmap.com and enter “724627” when prompted for an access code.