Google has been the leader of online mapping with Google Maps for awhile. But that could change as the people behind OpenStreetmap try to compete for the title of the most-used web map service. This has created quite a stir and the company is only 8 years old!

Just like Google Maps, OpenStreetMap is a world map where users can plot directions and obtain street views of places they are curious about. It is becoming more and more popular. In March, it had almost 560,000 individual registered users.

OpenStreetMap’s Growing Popularity

At the begging of March, Apple switched from Google Maps to OpenStreetMap for its mobile software for locations outside the United States. And more recently Apple left Google Maps behind and switched to OpenStreetMap for the creation of the photos on a new photo management app for iOS. This was probably the clearest indication that OpenStreetMap could be a true competitor for Google Maps.

Also, a popular social media service, Foursquare, moved to OpenStreetMap earlier this year. You may contemplate why OpenStreetMap is growing in popularity. One reason is that its members can update maps based on their experience. The reader’s capability to edit and alter articles is what made Wikipedia so popular. Do you think Wikipedia could have become as popular if not for this feature?

Google No Longer Invulnerable?

It used to be that challenging Google was an unwise decision, but things have changed recently. Google has had a few shots that it has missed lately. For example, while Google+ exists, it is not real competition for Facebook, Twitter, or even Pinterest. Do you think OpenStreetMap is going to exceed Google Maps in popularity? Only time will tell.