Skip to main content

Mapquest Expands Free Mobile Offerings

Mapping and direction service provider Mapquest has announced it’s breaking its mobile phone solutions free from custom fee-based Java and Brew applications by introducing a new, free mobile mapping service.

Users can navigate to the Mapquest site using either a PC-based browser or a mobile phone and call up directions usng Mapquest’s form-based interface. On a PC, users can send a route to their cell phone using a new “Send to Cell” link at the top of the directions: Mapquest will send an text message to your phone with a URL containing a link which pulls up your route information. Mapquest is providing the service for free, although mobile operators will undoubtedly ding users for the text and data service. (Also, some carriers routinely drop text messages with embedded URLs, so you may be better off navigating to the Mapquest site directly using your cell phone—although that will naturally ring up more data charges than loading a single page.) However, the convenience of being able to configure maps using a desktop PC interface (tweaking directions and taking advantage of options like avoiding toll roads) may make the “Send to Cell” option a winner for many users.

The move could be a major step for Mapquest as it tries to compete with mapping services from Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and other Internet giants. Mapquest continues to offer mapping services via Java and Brew applications on a fee-based basis on particular carriers or on certain GPS devices, but the new free service potentially brings Mapquest’s directions service to tens of millions of handsets with Internet browser capability. And, of course, the service provides Mapquest the opportunity to tap into a much wider audience for location-based advertising appearing alongside its free service.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Spotify is testing the removal of a popular feature from its free tier
Spotify logo on a phone.

If you use Spotify’s free ad-supported tier and love using the app to check out the lyrics of the songs you listen to, an unpleasant surprise could be coming your way.

Why? Because the company is experimenting with making lyrics exclusive to its Premium subscribers.

Read more
You can now try the OnePlus 11 for free for 100 days — here’s how
Someone holding the OnePlus 11.

Buying a new smartphone is always a gamble in terms of customer satisfaction — mainly because they cost so much and can be so different from the device that the buyer is currently using.

To combat this, OnePlus is giving customers the chance to try the OnePlus 11 entirely risk-free. Starting today, the company is running the "100 Days No Regret" program, which allows OnePlus 11 buyers to use the new flagship for up to 100 days and still be eligible to return it for a full refund.

Read more
T-Mobile subscribers can get MLS Season Pass for free
MLS Season Pass on an iPhone.

T-Mobile today announced that it's giving its subscribers MLS Season Pass for free. The service — which gets you every MLS game this season, along with other attached leagues — normally costs $100 for the season, or $15 a month.

T-Mobile subscribers (and Metro by T-Mobile customers) will be able to add MLS Season Pass via the T-Mobile Tuesdays app starting on February 21.

Read more