China will soon put into use electronic GPS maps in 142 cities in order to weave a network across the country within 10 years, according to the Beijing-based newspaper Guangming Daily.

It is the largest digital publishing project in the country so far, the paper says.

China's Planet Map Publishing House and Shenzhen Maxwell Technology Corp. Ltd., the developers, have invested more than 100 million yuan (US$12.2 million) in the project, hoping to make the system cover major Chinese cities, counties and towns.

According to the paper,the two companies have so far developed electronic GPS maps covering 19 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

The maps can help car drivers to choose the best travel route, the paper says, adding that people can easily find the exact positions of restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals and other facilities on the map.

The maps can also be used in mobile phones, palmtop PCs and other electronic equipment.

Experts are quoted as saying that the market volume of electronic GPS maps is huge, exceeding 10 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion).

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2005)