Analysts: Google Maps wins, rivals 'stagnate'

Google Maps has expanded its lead in features in the last year, a move that will help the company vanquish rival services in mobile search, Cowen and Co. analysts said Monday.

"Since our initial survey in July 2007, innovation at (AOL's) MapQuest and Yahoo Maps has stagnated," and although Microsoft has improved Live Search Maps, it remains the least popular of the four top services, said analysts Jim Friedland and Kevin Kopelman. "Yahoo and MapQuest do not have the resources to keep pace and are forced to aggressively monetize a declining franchise in the maps segment."

Why does it matter? Because with the Apple's iPhone, Google's Android operating system, and many other efforts are bringing the Internet to mobile phones, and there's a wealth of untapped ad revenue in that market.

"Google's aggressive investment in maps positions the company to achieve a dominant share of search in the mobile Internet," the analysts said.

Specific advantages at Google Maps include Street View and public transportation directions, the analysts said.

Google Maps also has just launched traffic monitoring and prediction for parts of the United Kingdom, Google Blogoscoped pointed out.

[bonesbautista]

It'd be really great if the data Google used is correct - out of data mapping data still shows up in Portland and Seattle. And the data used in their mobile version - different data source (solely Teleatlas), more inaccurate, even older, and more out of date.

Mapquest ought to trumpet that their beta mapping (for the desktop) is the best I've found in a direct comparison. Their aerials, however? Not so good.

[bspjunk]

maps.live.com ... to me it wins hands down. Much better product. I used to be avid about google maps until I found this. Now I never go anywhere else. Look at the birds eye view ... incredible. Microsoft got it right on this one.

[MadLyb]

I actually like Yahoo Maps better.

Because it is Flash based, it tends to be 'smoother' and quite honestly, living in a rural area, Street View and Public Transportation are non-features.

[nselection]

Google maps is the hands down winner. They're images on average tend to be of higher spatial resolution, better coverage, and the roads appear to be more accurately placed than the competitors. Maps.love.com hardly compares.

[nselection]

Google maps is the hands down winner. They're images on average tend to be of higher spatial resolution, better coverage, and the roads appear to be more accurately placed than the competitors. Maps.love.com hardly compares.

[incendy]

Live Maps feature wise wins to me. Amazing API as well, which is the reason I see it being on top in the end. Google's API is good too, but not in the same league.

[benjaminstraight]

Obvious

[TV James]

I use Google Maps, unless I need to see the literal boundary of a city or county. Then I need to flip over to Yahoo! maps. Microsoft used to be the best for this pre-Live, but not sure anymore.

[lifelonglego]

I always use Live maps because it has better imagery and directions, and is more feature rich.

[Joe Force]

Google switched to TeleAtlas, and as a result, many streets that used to appear have disappeared. This seems to be widespread in newer areas of California and throughout the west coast. Their satellite imagery is more up to date, when I switch I see full neighborhoods appearing where Google has no data for streets.

This is a huge step back for Google. I am sad to say but until Google fixes this I'm switching to MapQuest or Yahoo Maps.