MapQuest Capitalizes on Name Change Controversy with Google Maps Overtake

MapQuest, a Google Maps alternative, has been making waves on social media for its stance against the United States changing official designations of geographic features. The company refused to recognize the new name of Lake Ontario, which was changed to Lake America.

This move helped MapQuest dethrone Google Maps from the app store leaderboards.

MapQuest is a subsidiary of advertising tech firm System1, which owns several other brands, including Answers.com and search engine StartPage. Under System1's tenure, MapQuest has introduced a new subscription service called Lighthouse that allows families to track each member's location and phone battery levels for $6.66 per month.

A condensed history of MapQuest shows its origins date back to the 1990s when R.R. Donnelley & Sons partnered with Spatial Data Services, which was working on a digital trip planner product.