From SearchEngineLand:Link to original article
Yesterday, Google sent out an email reminder to those involved in the Google Maps Business View program of the upcoming changes. In short, Google Maps Business View will be renamed to Street View Trusted, and with that, Google will loosen up some of their policies around the program to make it “much easier,” while the “publishing requirements will be simpler.” Google said these changes will lead to “improving publishing and editing reliability.” Google also said that “high quality imagery and consistent professionalism will remain key requirement” in this program.
In addition, Google is going to launch a new Street View app in September where these user profiles and published panoramas (photo spheres) will be found. They will be removed from the main Google Maps section. Google said that on iOS, this app will replace Photo Sphere Camera, with both iOS and Android versions supporting their photo sphere camera mode.
In mid-August, Google Maps Views goes offline. But Google promises that later in the year Google Maps will “re–introduce support for creating connections between photo spheres (‘constellations’) with a new, more automated solution.” Google also explained:
Your existing, approved photos, photo spheres and constellations will continue to be visible – and deletable – through the Google Maps website. Unfortunately at this time, descriptions and comments are not able to be carried over to your Google Maps account. Also, all images, including those that have not been approved for Google Maps, will continue to be accessible via Google+ where you can adjust their visibility permissions.