- MapQuest defied President Trump's order to rename Lake Ontario and became the most in-demand navigation tool in the US, topping the most-downloaded list.
- The app held the No 1 spot on Apple’s App Store as of Tuesday morning, confirmed by the Guardian.
- Google quickly complied with Trump’s demand, showing Lake America to US customers, while Apple is reportedly considering a similar change under pressure from the White House.
- MapQuest’s general manager, Doug Berger, said usage was running at about 50 times its usual rate, and the company offered subscribers the chance to generate their own name for the lake.
- In Canada, MapQuest was the second-most downloaded app overall by Sunday night.
- Polls show Trump’s renaming efforts found favor with only a small percentage, and a Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 20% approved of higher tariffs on Canadian goods, with 57% opposed.
- MapQuest, a 30-year-old company that bills itself as the original of the internet mapping era, appears to have been rewarded for standing firm.
- TechCrunch reported that MapQuest's downloads had soared in recent days, making it the fourth most popular app in the US (excluding games) and leading the Apple app store’s navigation chart, with Google at No 2.
MapQuest has become the most downloaded navigation app in the US after defying President Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'. The app's downloads have reportedly increased by 50 times its usual rate, leading to its rise above competitors like Google Maps and Apple Maps.1245610
While Google quickly complied with the order, showing 'Lake America' to US customers, Apple is still considering its response. According to a TechCrunch report, MapQuest's downloads soared, making it the fourth most popular app overall in the US, excluding games, and the top navigation app.11
MapQuest's general manager, Doug Berger, stated that the app's usage is running at about 50 times its usual rate. As a light-hearted response to the situation, the company is allowing users to generate their own names for the lake. This comes amid polls indicating that Trump's renaming efforts are unpopular, with only 20% of respondents approving of the higher tariffs imposed on Canadian goods, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.89
The app's rise reflects a growing trend of users supporting companies that take a stand against controversial political decisions, as MapQuest, a 30-year-old company, positions itself as a pioneer of the internet mapping era.
“MapQuest's general manager Doug Berger said usage is running at about 50 times its usual rate, and the company is offering subscribers a chance to generate their own name for the lake. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 20% approved of higher tariffs on Canadian goods, with 57% opposed.”
The Guardian
