MapQuest
MapQuest is a US web mapping and navigation service launched in 1996 that provides maps and turn-by-turn directions. Its operating company grew out of a cartographic business dating to 1967, listed on NasdaqNasdaqNasdaq is an exchange operator and financial technology company headquartered in New York. It runs The Nasdaq Stock Market and other markets and provides capital markets technology, regulatory technology, and data and index services. Founded in 1971, it combined with OMX AB in 2008, and in March 2026 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved its rules for trading tokenized securities.Open the full entry in 1999, was later owned by AOLAOLAOL is an American internet brand offering a news portal, email, and membership services. Its history dates to an online-services company founded in 1985.Open the full entry and then VerizonVerizonVerizon (Verizon Communications Inc.) is one of the largest telecommunications carriers in the United States, formed in 2000 through the merger of Bell Atlantic, one of the “Baby Bells,” and GTE. Headquartered in New York City, it operates a nationwide wireless network, Fios fiber broadband and communications services for businesses and government, and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.Open the full entry, and is now a brand of System1.
Contents10 sections
Key facts
1967–1989From Printed to Digital Maps
MapQuest’s predecessor was founded as the mapping division of R.R. Donnelley in the late 1960s.[1]
The company has provided traditional cartographic products since 1967 and began digital mapping in 1989.[2]
1994–1996GeoSystems Global Corporation and Website Launch
1999Renamed MapQuest.com and Nasdaq Listing
On January 27, 1999 GeoSystems Global Corporation changed its name to MapQuest.com, Inc. In May of that year the company completed its initial public offering on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol MQST.[2]
In fiscal 1999 the business was divided into Business Products and Services, Consumer Products and Services (mainly advertising and sponsorships on mapquest.com) and Digital Mapping Products and Services (printed maps, atlases and mapping services). The company said it delivered more than 150 million maps and driving directions a month. As of December 31, 1999 it had 335 employees, with headquarters in Mountville, Pennsylvania, executive offices in New York and other offices including Denver, Colorado.[2]
December 1999–2000Acquisition by AOL
On December 21, 1999 MapQuest.com signed a merger agreement with America Online (AOL) under which it would merge into MQ Acquisition Corp, a wholly owned AOL subsidiary, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL. The deal, an all-stock transaction valued at $1.1 billion, was completed in 2000.[2][1]
2009Overtaken by Google Maps
Google Maps, launched in 2005, passed MapQuest as the top online mapping site in 2009.[1]
From 2015: Verizon Ownership and Sale to System1
In 2015 Verizon acquired AOL for $4.4 billion, bringing MapQuest under Verizon’s ownership.[3]
Verizon later sold MapQuest’s website, mobile apps and enterprise business, held in Verizon Location Technology, to System1, an ad-tech company based in Venice, California, for an undisclosed amount; Verizon said it did not file paperwork because the sum was not material, and it continued to build location products and provide some technical support. MapQuest then claimed to reach “38 million monthly unique users.”[3][1]
In its statement Verizon called MapQuest “the first digital mapping site on the internet” and said System1 planned to position it as “a more private alternative to other consumer mapping applications.”[3]
February 2022Acquisition of RoadWarrior
On February 10, 2022 System1 announced that it had completed the acquisition of RoadWarrior, a subscription route-planning app for gig economy drivers, without disclosing terms. MapQuest general manager John Chipouras said MapQuest planned to grow RoadWarrior’s user base by offering its B2B APIs and to introduce route-planner power users to its premium subscription product.[4]
2024–2025Flagship Brand of System1
After System1’s internal reorganization on August 1, 2024, MapQuest became part of the Products businesses held by S1 Media, together with CouponFollow and Startpage. In its annual report for fiscal 2025, System1 listed MapQuest among its flagship brands, describing it as a web-based navigation service that delivers turn-by-turn direction guidance, and noted that clients can use MapQuest through application programming interfaces.[5]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
MapQuest: Official website: https://www.mapquest.com/ (opens in a new window).[2]
Sources
- A eulogy for Mapquest (opens in a new window)
- MapQuest.com, Inc. Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1999 (opens in a new window)
- Verizon has sold mapping service MapQuest as the telecom giant continues to trim its media investments (opens in a new window)
- System1 Completes Acquisition of RoadWarrior (opens in a new window)
- System1, Inc. Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2025 (opens in a new window)