New York — Despite Google Maps being one of the superior apps on the Android phones, with its turn-by-turn and voice-guided navigation along with street view levels almost impossible to beat, there is now a new player in the mapping market that also offers a free solution with some added benefits. MapQuest has just unveiled the new MapQuest mobile app for Android that provides an alternative to Google Maps for free.
Android users now have the luxury of another free turn-by-turn option to choose from — the recently released free MapQuest app also offers similar turn-by-turn capabilities and reaps the blessings of Android’s speech functionality to offer a voice guide navigation as well.
Millions of MapQuest enthusiasts frequently use our mobile website from their Android devices. To these millions, we are excited to present our free Android app with turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation capabilities. The benefits of MapQuest over Google Maps comes from the former’s use of OpenStreetMap (OSM), making the mapping app usable outside the U.S. and adding to it some user-submitted data.
Just like Google Maps, it boasts turn-by-turn driving directions but also integrates your Contact list so you can easily navigate to an acquaintance’s location. Another great thing about having an Android phone is the fact that Google Maps and turn-by-turn driving directions are generally included with your device: you do not need to install a third party app to help you get where you are going, and you also do not need a GPS in your car if you do not want one.
MapQuest also boasts traffic overlays that are updated every 5 minutes. In addition, the MapQuest app, which provides users with comprehensive mapping services such as turn-by-turn driving directions, works with the smartphone’s contact list, so users can quickly receive driving directions to their friends’ houses or even businesses and restaurants they have previously searched for. And if you do not have a car and hence not bothered about traffic, it also provide walking directions which you can see in a list format.
The Android app is similar to MapQuest’s iPhone offering and the app also employs the user-generated OpenStreetMap dataset for providing solid (if potentially imperfect) international navigation, and future updates will likely bring the “My Places” personalization feature over from the iPhone app.
It is the OpenStreetMap component that makes MapQuest an interesting alternative to Google’s efforts in the mapping world. OpenStreetMap offers what MapQuest describes as “a collaborative, ‘by the people, for the people’ mapping movement. It is basically a living map that is improved every day by people just like you.” This allows users to correct and add information on the map, giving in many instances better local details, including information about local businesses.
Admittedly, MapQuest has a lot of work to do, and needs to add some real stand-out features to the app to make it more than just an alternative to Google Maps for people who prefer MapQuest or want a different way to get directions. At the moment, it does not have a loads of features and tools that Google Maps for Android has, but the app does give you a wealth of features that make it a solid competitor to Google Maps, but it helps that the app is free.