Mobile map use outstrips online

The use of online maps, via a PC, fell in the year to May, 2008, in both the U.K. and the U.S. In the U.K. it fell from 45% to 41%.

However, users in both countries are increasingly using map on their mobile devices, in particular Apple’s iPhone. In the three months to May, 2008, the U.S. experienced an 82% growth rate and the U.K. 49%.

Yell.com, a U.K.-based business directory website with around 2.3 million businesses listed, recently launched a mobile maps service. Users can search for a business by name, address or keyword and receive a map of the business location.

"The mobile phone as a personal navigation device makes tremendous sense," said Mark Donovan, senior analyst at comScore.

"With the influx of devices such as the iPhone with GPS, Nokia's purchase of Navteq and the growing popularity of downloadable navigation applications, you don't need a map to see where this sector is going."

Tags: mobile maps, mobile marketing