Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/838705
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 18 JUNE 2017 Events 45 Google this week launched its Street View service in Malta. Peo- ple across the world will now be able to take a virtual tour of Malta, thanks to the images taken by 360 -degree camera, at the same time benefitting from new opportuni- ties to better plan their everyday lives and holidays. A virtual stroll through Malta will give users an immersive look at the Maltese natural landscape, as well as cultural and historic sites, including heritage and tour- istic attractions, from Valletta to St Julian's, to Victoria, and be- yond. Street View, a hugely popular feature of Google Maps, is already available in 83 countries around the world. It allows users to virtu- ally explore and navigate a neigh- bourhood through panoramic street-level images. It is also avail- able in Google Maps on iOS and Android and Google Earth. Helena Kesic Kojan, Street View Program Manager at Google said: "Street View has been hugely popular so we're very happy that this new imagery will allow any- one around the world to explore Malta, turn-by-turn. The Maltese and people throughout the world can now make travel plans, check out a restaurant before arriving, arrange meeting points, or just explore and get to know the area better". Organisations and businesses can also benefit from the Street View technology. The street-level imagery of the location in fact can help them promote and in- crease awareness of their business - whether it's a bar, a local attrac- tion or any other point of interest. Real estate agents can use Street View to show available properties to prospective buyers and tenants. Event organisers will be able to evaluate locations, restaurants, hotels and museums. For more information on Street View and how it can be used for recreational purposes and by businesses please visit: https:// www.google.com/streetview/ Nowadays, users don't have to wait for Google to add new im- agery to Street View. Anyone can download the Street View app, on Google Play and iOS, and instantly contribute their own 360-degree panoramas — right to Google Maps. Everybody can now share their own 360-degree images of their special places, for example great hiking trails, res- taurants and hotel interiors, to Google Maps for others to explore and enjoy. Discover Maltese beauties and treasures, visiting the Street View gallery available at https://www. google.com/streetview/#discover- malta. Businesses make up the backbone of Malta's economy and HSBC Mal- ta is recognising their contribution as drivers of the economy by offer- ing them a new portfolio of busi- ness cards. The new HSBC Business Debit and HSBC Business Credit cards of- fer businesses greater buying power that traditionally was not available to them, whilst also providing more opportunities to earn rewards. For instance, the HSBC Business Credit card allows the main account hold- er to allocate different credit limits to cardholders according to busi- ness requirements. HSBC Head of Commercial Banking Michel Cordina said: "HS- BC Business Debit and Credit cards resolve an important issue for busi- nesses as sometimes they need im- mediate buying power to fund their growth. The cards are designed purposely to achieve not only that, but also to offer the countless pos- sibilities of the HSBC capabilities such as worldwide acceptance, mul- ti-trip travel insurance, and cash back on airfares." "These new cards are ideal for many different levels of businesses from sole traders to small business- es to corporates," he added. The cards are easy to use and an ideal way to keep track of day to day expenses such as travel, hotels and restaurants, building materials, of- fice supplies and equipment. The HSBC Business Debit and Business Credit cards replace the HSBC Debit and Credit Negozju cards. Google launches Street View in Malta HSBC introduces new debit and credit cards for businesses New HSBC Business Debit and Business Credit cards go where your business is going Mdina, the Old City The Rotunda (Church of St. Mary), Mosta Auberge de Castille in Valletta