Snap has taken the latest step in its mapping evolution. As part of its broader revenue diversification play, Snap Map has rolled out new loyalty badges. By gamifying local business engagement, Snap is hoping to boost map usage, offline foot traffic, and ultimately monetization via Promoted Places.
Following speculation that emerged last fall, Apple has officially announced that it will start serving ads in Apple Maps. Ads will be shown alongside mapping search results, using a combination of location and contextual targeting.
Beyond Snap’s financial performance in Q4, one thing that jumped out to us during the analyst call was pointed remarks about SMB advertising. In fact, ‘SMB’ or its spelled-out variations were said 11 times. The headline is that SMB ad growth is driving Snap’s top line.
Instagram this week fired the latest shot in the social mapping wars. It announced Instagram Map, a social mapping tool that resembles Snap Map in arraying content and friend updates on a Map UI. This is just the latest in a string of Instagram mapping moves that built up to this point.
Apple Maps emboldened its local knowledge this week with place data for restaurants and golf courses. Specifically, it announced a collaboration with the MICHELIN Guide, The Infatuation, and Golf Digest to bring in better listings data in these categories.
Snapchat lenses can now interact with GPS and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems). They can also ingest location-based signals such as compass headings and custom locations, which flow from Snap’s places database.
Instagram this week fired the latest shot in the ongoing social mapping wars. Users can now share their locations with friends via direct messages. Once those messages are received and activated, the recipient can see the sender’s live location within Instagram’s mapping feature for up to an hour.
Snap this week is rolling out a new feature to iOS users to help them track and save their local adventures. Known as Footsteps, it offers greater structure around one’s local activity.
Instagram revealed plans to develop a social mapping function. Similar to Snap Map, the idea is to array social signals on a map.
Starting in public beta, users can access Apple Maps for the first time via their web browser, including directions, curated city guides, and other app favorites like Look Around.
One Google I/O updated flew under the radar involves a staple of the local media & commerce ecosystem: mapping. Specifically, Google Maps are getting more immersive.
Apple has launched a new custom actions feature feature in its Business Connect offering for local businesses. Known as Custom Action Links, they let businesses decide what types of user actions they want to drive in their Apple Maps place card.
Instagram this week revealed its plans to develop a social mapping function. Similar on some levels to Snap Map, the idea is to array social signals on a map.
Google. It has merged electric vehicles (EVs) with one of the most inherently “local” topics out there: mapping. By combining charging-station location data in Google Maps with real-time car diagnostics, it’s able to be a smart copilot for EV owners suffering from range anxiety.
Google recently held its Immersive Geospatial Challenge. This lets developers compete for the best application of its geospatial API. We break down the winners including demo videos.
While Apple invests in catching up to Google in online mapping, one competitive edge could come from immersive 3D navigation and wayfinding. We examine the latest.
Online mapping continues to see a barrage of new feature updates. The latest in this feature arms race comes to us from Google. It announced a wide range of functional upgrades across the board. We examine the list.
Apple Maps has announced that some of its most colorful new features – including Look Around and “Detailed City Experience” – are now more widely available in 20 additional cities.
Apple Maps’ new self-serve business listings feature follows Google’s model for Google Business Profiles (GPB). Known as Apple Business Connect, it allows SMBs to add and maintain their listings.
Google’s annual Search On event featured several updates to core search and orbiting products like Maps. Given the prominence and centrality of mapping to local commerce, we’ll start there. We break down the drivers and dynamics.
