See Inside Buildings With Google Maps [VIDEO]

Google has unveiled Business Photos for Google Maps, a new product that allows users to check out the inside of local businesses.

Marissa Mayer, Google’s vice president of consumer products, made the announcement Thursday at the Social-Loco conference in San Francisco.

During a demo on stage, Mayer and a co-worker showed off the ability to “enter” local businesses and see the inside of a building. Businesses can provide photos to Google, which can then be compiled into a 360-degree view of a building’s interior.

These features have been making the rounds in the rumor mill for more than a year. Back in February 2010, we heard that Google would be adding Street View-like features for retail interiors as part of Google Maps.

Business Photos could prove to be a useful tool for restaurants, bars and establishments that depend on local patronage. Many people like to check out the places they eat and drink on the web. Soon, Google users will be able to see inside these places directly from Google Maps.

Mayer says that Google Business Photos will be released in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada and several other countries next week, with more countries getting the feature in the following month.