My MapQuest, launched

MapQuest announced the launch of My MapQuest, a personalized mapping experience that lets MapQuest.com users save maps or routes and access them anytime from any browser or Internet-enabled mobile device. This latest enhancement to MapQuest.com, delivers on the MapQuest promise of helping users discover: where is it, how do I get there and what’s nearby.

“The launch of My MapQuest continues MapQuest’s commitment to innovation and improving the user’s experience. Our studies have shown that our customers want a personalization feature that includes the ability to save previously searched addresses,” said Christian Dwyer, Senior Vice President and GM, MapQuest. “Giving our users the ability to save not just maps but also their routes sets us apart and extends MapQuest’s commitment to offering users choice and flexibility.”

Users can easily set up an account by using a new or existing AOL Screen Name or OpenID login. My MapQuest users have the ability to configure and retain personal site preferences, such as miles versus kilometers, preferred language, user data such as cell phone numbers (for the Send to Cell feature), make and model of their vehicle, and addresses for friends and family. Users can also take advantage of the recently released Draggable Routes feature by customizing their directions, then saving them to their My MapQuest account.

My MapQuest also introduces an innovative feature that will automatically calculate the estimated fuel cost of a trip, based on the users saved vehicle information, route distance and average gas prices in the route area.

In addition, My MapQuest will soon be available to MapQuest 4 Mobile (MQ4M) BlackBerry users, further extending the MapQuest.com experience to mobile handsets by enabling users to access saved maps and routes via their mobile phones. Users will be able to plan their routes online and take their directions on-the-go. In addition to the currently supported handsets, the MQ4M service will also be available on new handsets including the AT&T BlackBerry Bold, Verizon BlackBerry 8830 and 8330, and T-Mobile BlackBerry 8300, 8800 and 8820, with more models coming soon.

My MapQuest is the latest addition to the new MapQuest experience which includes the recent launches of a new MapQuest.com website; MapQuest Local, a unique set of local features that have been integrated into MapQuest.com; the MapQuest 4 Mobile downloadable application; and an optimized version of MapQuest.com for the iPhone. MapQuest is the leading online mapping site in the U.S., according to the October comScore Media Metrix report.

MapQuest is part of the AOL Network, which relaunched its entire line-up of key vertical channels and commerce sites, and has launched more than a dozen new niche sites to appeal to targeted audiences. As a result, AOL has seen steady growth in unique visitors and page views on its content sites, and a dozen of AOL’s sites are in the top three in their respective categories, according to comScore Media Metrix (October 2008).

For additional information about My MapQuest please visit http://blog.mapquest.com.