Google opens Indoor Street View to Canadian firms

Thanks to Street View, it shouldn’t be hard for anyone to find out what the front of any Canadian storefront or office looks like on Google, but on Monday, the search giant offered the change to glimpse what’s behind closed doors.

Any business with a free Google Place page listing will be able to participate in Indoor Street View, which will employ specially-trained Google-trusted independent photographers to capture 360-degree interactive panoramas of their interiors, the company said in a blog post. (Contact one here.)

Canada cities involved in the pilot include Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal, among several others. Work by the photographers, who will be providing images as a paid service, will be displayed on Google Maps and Google Places.

“Potential customers get a virtual tour of the business, so that they can imagine themselves being at the location to determine if they want to visit in person,” the blog post said.

Google forsess restaurants, retail stores, beauty salons, auto dealerships and small dental/medical as potential candidates for Indoor Street View.