Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Maps.me

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Initial release
  
2011

Repository
  
github.com/mapsme/omim

Stable release
  
6.5.0

Written in
  
C++, Objective-C, Java

Maps.me

Developer(s)
  
MapsWithMe GmbH, My.com

Operating system
  
Android, iOS, BlackBerry

MAPS.ME (formerly named MapsWithMe) is a mobile app for Android, iOS and BlackBerry that provides offline maps using OpenStreetMap data. In November 2014, it was acquired by Mail.Ru Group and became part of its My.com brand. In September 2015, the app was open sourced. First, the whole team has developed an application in Switzerland and Belarus. MAPS.ME was founded by Yury Melnichek who was leading the project until April of 2016 when Evgeny Lisovskiy took over.

Contents

Features

  • Offline map data (custom compressed format)
  • GPS support
  • Offline search (by name, address, category and coordinates)
  • Offline routes for cars and by foot
  • Map Editor
  • Bookmarks
  • Auto-follow mode
  • Location and bookmarks sharing
  • KML import

    • Acquisition by Mail.ru Group

    The application was initially developed by Zurich-based MapsWithMe GmbH with a development office in Minsk.

    In 2012, MapsWithMe came in first in the Startup Monthly competition in Vilnius. The team won a nine-week traineeship in Silicon Valley as a prize.

    In November 2014, MAPS.ME was acquired by Mail.Ru Group to be integrated with My.com, and the app was made free of charge. The engineering team was relocated to the Mail.Ru Group office in Moscow to continue working on the project.

    Data source and technologies

    All map data for MAPS.ME is taken from OpenStreetMap, a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world.

    Technologies used in the app:

  • C++
  • Objective-C
  • Java
  • Android NDK
  • Qt
  • OpenGL ES

    • API

    MAPS.ME provides a free API to developers for both commercial and personal use.

    YotaPhone

    In 2013, developers of YotaPhone, a Russian smartphone with 2 displays (LCD front, e-ink back), requested MapsWithMe to develop a version of the app especially for the e-ink display of the device. MapsWithMe released a special version of the app optimized for both color and e-ink screens of the smartphone.

    The main screen allows users to see maps of all countries, drop pins on the map, and find their location. Then it is possible to move the maps to the e-ink display to use the map in the energy saving mode.

    Currently, support of YotaPhone is excluded from last releases (as at 4th May 2016).

    References

    Maps.me Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA