Comments on: Maps Vs. Mapquest: Hitwise has Mapquest still in the lead

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:38:43 +0000

@Luc

I think Miriam was referring to Google’s near monopoly position in search and the possibility that it could soon apply to Local and Maps as well.

Mike

By: Luc

Luc — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:34:09 +0000

What do you mean monopoly? Mapquest used to have 50% of the market and it looks like it will have to share that 50% with Google. That’s not monopoly, that’s just more competition.

By: MiriamEllis

MiriamEllis — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:37:33 +0000

Hang in there, MapQuest. Competition is good. Monopoly is…not so good.

Miriam

By: Jim Gianoglio

Jim Gianoglio — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:10:44 +0000

Regardless of whether or not Google Maps has overtaken MapQuest (according to Compete it has, according to Hitwise it has not) the big picture is still clear: the amount of market share lost by MapQuest to Google in the past year is astounding.

Let’s just hope that the recent efforts by MapQuest (new features and upgrades) is enough to keep them competitive – the last thing we need is a Monopoly by Google in the local search space.

Mike – as always, thanks for keeping us in the know!

By: Stever

Stever — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:02:33 +0000

The hitwise data shows an almost mirror inverse relationship implying Google’s growth comes at a direct cost to Mapquest. Should Google’s growth continue, no reason why it should not, they will certainly take over the lead.

The current little upswing for Mapquest may largely be just one of the up-down wiggles, or variation, in the longer downward trend. In the stock markets during a strong down trend they call this a “dead cat bounce” where it will then resume its downwards slide.

But maybe they are regaining a little traction with the new mobile and local features they added.

Google will still overtake them. A certainty, like death and taxes.