BEIJING - China's mapping service regulator Wednesday said Google's application for an online maps license, which is required for operating such service in China, is under official examination.

The National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, said in a statement that Beijing Guxiang Information Technology Co. Ltd, a joint-venture of Google, submitted the application in November last year.

During the period of the license application being examined by authorities, Google's online maps service in China can maintain the status quo, but its service content should not be increased, the statement said, citing regulations.

According to China's regulations, foreign companies are banned from providing Internet mapping services in China, and for joint ventures involved in Internet mapping, foreign investors' stake in the enterprise should not exceed 50 percent.

Foreign-funded Google China and local firm Ganji.com each hold a 50 percent stake in Beijing Guxiang Information Technology Co. Ltd, the operator of the google.cn website, according to reports.

As of Tuesday, a total of 279 firms or organizations have been granted licenses for offering online mapping services, the administration said, adding it has almost achieved the goal of ensuring that all existing service providers operate with a permit.

The administration is still investigating seven other websites for offering maps service without official approval, according to the statement, which did not identify the websites.

"The move to bring Internet mapping services under regulation will facilitate public access to better quality online maps as well as maintain State geoinformation security," the statement noted, citing an administration official.