14 DAY TRIAL // As with plenty of markets it’s interested in, and there are a lot of them, Google dominates online mapping. Google Maps is the most popular service of its kind in the world, despite some serious or sometimes not so serious competition. But that’s no reason to give up just yet, MapQuest, a popular online mapping website in the US, owned by AOL, has just introduced a revamped interface and several new features, despite voices saying AOL had pretty much given up on the venture.
"We are committed to providing accurate maps and directions to millions of people every day," said Christian Dwyer, Senior Vice President and General Manager, MapQuest. "We have invested in creating a new user experience that helps users discover what is there, nearby and along the way, making it more than how to get from Point A to Point B. The MapQuest evolution is underway and aims to transcend how consumers engage with maps by adding seamless context and sharing capabilities."
Regular users will notice the changes right away. The site, still in beta, features a completely reworked interface and several new tools that were badly needed. The search box is now more user-friendly and more suited for several types of searches. You can use it to find a specific address, even if you know very little information about it, or to do more generic searches like for places to eat. The map directions panel has also been overhauled.
But the update is more than just a new interface, there are a couple of social features as well. MapQuest now lets you save places, journeys and searches under the My Maps section and then share them with your friends on Facebook or Twitter. And, since you can log in with any Google, Facebook, Twitter, OpenID, Yahoo and AOL account, you can start using the feature right away. MapQuest also offers integration with Patch a service AOL acquired last year.