MapQuest was the leader among websites giving people online directions until late 2008 when Google Maps took the crown. MapQuest wants the crown back and has recently unveiled a new brand identity and launched a new experience to make using the service easier and faster.
Users can reorder their directional points by clicking and dragging on icons- great for multiple destionations trips. When your trip route is set, the toolbar integrates Patch’s directory information which allows the user to search for shops, parks, gas stations or other spots along the way. The aim is give users more locally relevant information about the whole drive.
“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. “And under the new leadership at AOL, 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.”
New Experience Includes
- One-box search for finding directions, maps and businesses;
- Enhanced My Maps with a simplified login process using existing services (AOL, OpenID, Yahoo, Google, Facebook and Twitter);
- The ability to easily save and customize information, including My Maps trip itineraries, and share it with friends via social networks, including: Facebook and Twitter;
- Ways to plan and personalize travel with notes, anecdotes, landmarks and short cuts; and
- Integration of Patch’s directory information into MapQuest’s search results (e.g. restaurants, stores, government offices, local services, parks and schools).
Coming to Mobile, As Well
The MapQuest.com experience will continue to be replicated on mobile devices via the company’s various mobile products including MapQuest 4 Mobile, MapQuest Navigator and MapQuest Mobile Web. MapQuest also recently announced the availability of basic voice guidance on MapQuest 4 Mobile for iPhone, a key feature which moves out in front of the rest of the free iPhone navigation apps.
New Logo
MapQuest has also updated the company’s branding to coincide with the new site aesthetic. The goals of the new logo were to make it simple, clean and modern while remaining vibrant and fun.
Only a small percentage of users will see the new UI experience right away, but there is the ability to opt in via a link on the current site, or users can go directly to www.new.mapquest.com.
If all goes well, the beta could be the default look of MapQuest in August, though users can still opt to use the older version.
For additional information about MapQuest and their various mobile applications visit www.blog.mapquest.com and a video at http://features.mapquest.com/new-mapquest-video
