The mapplet can be found in the My Maps tab on Google Maps. The WeatherBug mapplet puts temperature markers on the map along with severe weather alerts, traffic, and camera views.

 The WeatherBug mapplet was launched using a new feature on Google Maps that allows third party developers to create mini-applications that can be added to Google Maps. Users can combine information from a variety of sites on the same map and create their own mashup.

"The weather information embedded in WeatherBug’s mapplet is a perfect fit for Google Maps," said Thai Train, Product Manager for Google Maps."This is the type of innovation and local information that we hope will benefit our users the most."

When the WeatherBug temperature or camera icons on the map are clicked, additional content such as wind direction and speed will be displayed in the mapplet.

"We are excited to be one of the first to develop on this platform and to showcase the relevancy of maps, weather alerts and traffic cameras,"said Shane Lundy, vice president of product strategy for AWS Convergence Technologies Inc., owner of the WeatherBug brand.

From WeatherBug …

Today was a great day! We tracked a storm from its beginnings as a small cumulus cloud crossing the dryline, to its development into a full mesoscale system complete with two funnels that lowered several hundred feet out of a wall cloud before they dissipated back up into the cloud. Fortunately for the farmers and residents of Dundy County, no tornadoes touched down.

It was a thrill to behold. Megan’s Boston accent finally came out as she kept repeating “This is wicked awesome!” We captured great video and photos. A few are included below and some in my photo album that you can view at right. Take a look!

Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.

He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.

… because they compete with my client, WeatherBug.

So, for the most part, I will stay quiet and let you judge for yourself. What I will say, however, is that the blogger reminds me of The Unknown Comic from the Gong Show.

The bag look does not convey transparency and I think that’s what the blogosphere is all about.

Link: AccuWeather blog

Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.

He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.

We help companies find their evangelists/vigilanties, listen to them, engage them in dialogue and, where appropriate, empower them to help spread the word for us. Here’s a good example.

Tonight I noticed that Gordon Gould was trashing WeatherBug, one of our clients. I left a comment on his post that we could set up a conversation for him with the WeatherBug team to address his concerns. The result? Gordon was smack down impressed and now is willing to listen. Will he change his tune? I am not sure. But at least I know we’re all listening to each other, which is a start.

So for all PR people thinking about getting started in blog relations, I challenge you to ask yourselves this: “How big are your ears?”

Reader Comment:

From Rich at Hello_World …

“I love the concept of the service you’ve launched at KC, but just cant help wondering about the wisdom/logic of using the Micro Persuasion name. I can’t see a real upside (Steve Rubel is the brand in this case, not Micro Persuasion), but there are quite a few negatives; what if you leave? What if you want to publically disagree about something your company has done? What if you want to discuss an issue a client may not like?

I’m just curious…!”

Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.

He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.

… and they are blogging their adventure. Be sure to subscribe to their feed. Good luck Stephanie and Mark!

Here’s a clip from one of their posts:

Preparing for Punxsutawney

Let me start by telling you how much I hate packing. No matter how long or short the trip, I go into a virtual paralysis trying to decide what to bring.

My goal is to pack light enough to fit everything into my “weekender” backpack, but it normally takes me 3 or 4 rounds of removing articles to make it all fit, which causes me to worry that I might be leaving something I’ll need behind or worse, have separation anxiety over leaving a favorite shirt or pair of shoes (pathetic, I know!)

Continue reading the post here …

Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.

He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.

… that a blogging program jointly created, developed and managed by WeatherBug and CooperKatz (my employer) was nominated in the Best Use of the Internet category.

The winner will be revealed at a gala event on Thursday, March 3 at Tavern on the Green in New York City.

Additional Link:
The PRWeek article

Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.

He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.

Some have openly questioned my ethics. Others, meanwhile, have supported me. I applaud them both. This is certainly a polarizing issue among at least the PR bloggers and worthy of an ongoing discussion.

Tonight I have decided to test these waters again by pointing out two relevant news items related to CooperKatz clients. If it offends you that I am blogging about them, I apologize in in advance. Please do speak out and tell me why. I will say, however, that I try hard to keep this to a minimum and only point things out when they are truly relevant to the topic. It has never been my intention to use my weblog as a place to hype my employer or its clients. Rather it is my aim to participate in conversations about weblogs, RSS and participatory journalism and how they re-shaping the media, marketing and PR.

One of my clients is WeatherBug – a very popular online/on-air weather services company. Like other major media brands WeatherBug has been looking to engage their users to participate in the editorial process. Today they announced they are building a local weather monitoring network powered by consumers armed with backyard weather stations. This effort will enhance, rather than replace their existing professional network of 7,000 sensors in an effort to be more locally relevant. It’s citizen journalism at work. You can read more here and here.

Separately, we are also working with PubSub, a powerful tool that is invaluable for PR professionals. PubSub will keep you up-to-date in real-time via RSS on blog posts that cover virtually any topic. They call their technology “prospective search.” Search Engine Watch today did a great job explaining what their technology does and how it can help information junkies like PR pros stay in the know.

Thank you again for listening. I am truly fortunate not only to have a very loyal readership who cares passionately about blogging and citizen’s media, but also an employer with great clients who are participating actively here too. Hopefully you won’t mind that I took the time to point them out tonight. I’d love to hear your thoughts no matter which side of the fence you’re on.

Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.

He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.