MapQuest has launched an all-new mobile browser experience built using HTML5. Designed to be more like MapQuest’s free iPhone and Android apps, the MapQuest mobile site is now easier than ever to use from your Android or iPhone mobile device, whether for exploring where you are, where you want to go, or how to best get there.
“Nearly half of all Mobile Web map users visited MapQuest in November,” said Michael Iams, Principal Product Manager for Mobile at MapQuest. “Since the largest and fastest growing segments of that group are iPhone and Android users, our aim with this release is to leverage the touch, display, and GPS capabilities of these advanced devices to give our users the best possible mobile web mapping experience.”
The new mobile Web experience features the ability to:
- Quickly determine your location: Access MapQuest.com in the mobile browser to determine a location and have it update it as you move around.
- Discover places to go: Find hotels, food, gas stations and more with a single tap. Pick a place using ratings and reviews for hotels and restaurants and current gas prices at participating stations nationwide.
- Get directions: In addition to basic directions, the new mobile web experience provides “landmark routing,” which helps users navigate by including places of interest along the way (e.g. “Turn left at Elm Street, right after the golf course.”). Landmark routing is also included in walking directions.
- Easy to use: The new MapQuest mobile web app features a new layout and organizes components in an easier to find and use format. For example, common functions such as in-frame traffic and toggling to satellite view are included in the dropdown. The new “you are here” icon lets users show their location on the map with a customizable emblem.