Local television used to be the de facto destination for weather and traffic information, but the internet and mobile devices are turning the tables fast. Take, for example, today’s launch of Google’s mobile traffic service. I downloaded the application on my Blackberry, and it’s very impressive. It combines Google Maps with a layer that illustrates real-time traffic conditions with colors superimposed over major roadways in 30 markets. And unlike most mobile graphics, it’s crystal clear and allows zooming to street level (it takes a little time to load, especially on slower-speed services.) The next logical step is for Google to add the traffic feature as a layer on their popular web-based maps — a significant competitive threat for local TV newscasts and their websites.
