How to load ArcGIS vector files into Google Earth or Google Maps or convert Google KML files to shapefiles. Google Maps (GM), Google Mobile Maps (GMM) and Google Earth (GE) use keyhole mark-up language (KML) to store spatial coordinate and feature attribute information. KMZ is a zipped (compressed) form of KML, allowing storage of information from several KML files in a single archive. To move map data to or from ArcGIS to Google Maps/Earth, ESRI shapefiles/feature classes must be translated to KML or vice-versa. N.B. The horizontal datum for Google KMLs is WGS84, and coordinates are stored in decimal degrees – before translating to KML, ESRI shapefiles must be in geographic coordinates with a WGS84 datum. Use the Projection tools in ArcToolbox to convert shapefiles of projected coordinates to geographic coordinates, if necessary, before using any of the conversions tools described below. The vertical datum for Google KMLs is WGS84 EGM96. 1) How can I obtain a KML file of place marks, lines or polygons for a Google Map (GM) (older versions)? As of 2-23-10, Google Maps Mobile (GMM), an application that runs on smart phones, displays Google Maps and a current location marker on the I-Phone but does not provide a way to access previously created custom Google maps (‘My Maps’) that are stored within a Google account. Oddly, you can see your ‘My Maps’ in the mobile version of GE but not GMM. One work-around to see a My Map outside of GE (but with no GPS functionality): The map opens in Google Maps on the Safari internet browser, not GMM, so there is no GPS current location marker visible. Source.