MapQuest Upgrades; Google, Yahoo Sigh

In a market where Yahoo's stake trails Google's by just one percentage point, a third company is beating them both by a solid 30%. Even worse (from the search engine companies' perspectives), that margin could soon increase. On Thursday, MapQuest announced plans to enhance its wireless offerings. The upgrade should make the company's mobile mapping services more comparable to its online engine. "We need to extend our reach and be on as many devices as possible," Alan Beigai, Mapquest's Director of Wireless, explained in a statement. "Our goal is also to fine tune content and functionality of mobile applications to match that of the online experience." Search Engine Watch's Mike Boland Murdok. Visit