China's State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping has now begun the licensing of online mapping services, having just announced the operators that have made the cut. The country felt they needed to go the regulation route in light of 42,000 web sites that provided online mapping services in the country. The regulation aims to provide better quality management, protection of privacy and state secrets, and a reduction in social problems that occur due to misinformation.

Starting in May, SBSM revised their standards for quality online maps, and began the license application process, stating that those sites whose applications were not approved for online mapping would be shut down.

SBSM has now provided a list of 23 approved providers on their website that include Alibaba; Beijing Baidu.com; Beijing Sogou.com; Sichuan Geographic Information Center; Shandong Cartographic Publishing House; Nanjing Institute of Surveying, Mapping & Geotechnical Investigation; Shandong Genius Geographic Information System Engineering Company; Jinan Institute of Surveying and Mapping; Linyi Institute of Land Resource Surveying; Shandong Institute of Land Resource Surveying; Guangzhou Urban Planning & Design Research Institute; Shenzhen Investigation & Research Institute; Beijing Changdi Wanfang Technology Company; and Beijing MapABC.com.

Notably missing from this list are international mapping operators Google, Microsoft and Nokia who have all reportedly applied for licenses. These other provides have millions of users in China who can access high-resolution satellite imagery, mobile mapping applications, and detailed routing instructions.

It's still unclear whether the list of 23 companies is a final list, and there has been no indication yet about the shutdown date of other online mapping providers.