Map Quest Driving Directions

MapQuest is an Internet mapping service that has become increasingly popular in recent years. The web site allows users to type in the destination they would like to reach, their home address, and then receive directions that provide them with the quickest route to the destination.

The company was originally founded in 1967 as Cartographic Services. In 1969, the company moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1994, the company was renamed GeoSystems Global Corporation before it was acquired by America Online, Inc. in 2000 and subsequently renamed MapQuest.

Since that time, the service has continued to grow. Today, they allow users to connect directly to their platform using a smartphone app. In 2007, the company announced that they were forming a partnership with General Motors’ OnStar. The new partnership allowed OnStar subscribers to access driving route information through mapquest.com and have it sent directly to their navigation service inside of their vehicle. While the idea may seem basic now, as other services regularly use similar technology, it was ahead of its time and was a feature that attracted many new customers for both companies.

References to the company can be seen in a number of television shows including an SNL Digital Short, as well as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The term “MapQuest” has become a part of pop-culture, and now can be used to refer to looking up directions on the Internet. Today, there are several other websites that also provide the same services that MapQuest does.