We’ve all wasted time virtually cruising around the planet when we’re bored, thanks to Google Earth. Now, Google is making some of its high-resolution images available for businesses to use for the first time.

Imagery from the United States is now available to buy through Google Maps for Business. According to the Mountainview company, customers can purchase its aerial imagery directly and use it for purposes like mapping public service projects, studying the environmentmal impact of projects, and evaluating properties.

Customers could previously access Google’s aerial and satellite imagery through its Maps API, but the images could only be viewed – it wasn’t possible for businesses to access the images directly or manipulate them in any way. Now, people can do so with its aerial imagery – although we should note its satellite images are still out of bounds.

The images can be accessed through geographical information system software, integrated into apps through the Maps API, or layered on top of Google Earth itself, said Google in a blog post. A couple of possible uses cases include making applications more visually compelling, or using the images to provide directions to customers, added Google.

For now, only imagery in continental USA is available to purchase. According to Google, this will assist “customers like government agencies get the imagery they need without collecting their own aerial photography.”

Image credit: Screenshot via Google Earth

This latest move is further evidence that Google is looking at ways its software, hardware and services can be adapted for business use. It’s done so before, most famously with Google Docs, which was rebranded for business customers. Google has also externalized tools of its own to target businesses, for example when it launched Google Compute Engine to compete in the cloud.

Google said that pricing will vary by organization.