2005 founded Standing
maps · maps.google.com
Google Maps
the moat is real
21 years 193 days and counting
Google, 2005, from Where 2 and Keyhole. Still the map.
Why it lasted
- The default for 'how do I get there' on Android and in the browser.
- Street View and the business graph are a crawl nobody else wants to fund again.
Times it almost ended
- Apple Maps' 2012 disaster made Google Maps look immortal. Apple got better. Google kept the habit.
What would finish it
- Car OS defaults that are not Google, plus a privacy-first map that is good enough. Apple is the threat, not MapQuest.
Questions
Is Google Maps still up?
Yes, with a Standing verdict: the moat is real. Founded 2005.
How long has Google Maps been around?
Google Maps has been up since 2005-02-08.
Why did Google Maps survive?
The default for 'how do I get there' on Android and in the browser.
Could Google Maps still die?
Car OS defaults that are not Google, plus a privacy-first map that is good enough. Apple is the threat, not MapQuest.