🕒 Created

MapQuest reaches record app store rankings after refusing to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America as directed by President Trump

MapQuest reached the No. 1 position for navigation apps in the U.S. App Store and the No. 8 overall free app position after deciding to retain the name Lake Ontario. The decision came in response to an executive order from President Trump directing the U.S. Department of the Interior to rename the lake to Lake America. While Google Maps complied with the administration's directive, MapQuest chose to preserve the familiar name. This strategy resulted in hundreds of thousands of new downloads and a 50-fold increase in app usage. Doug Berger, general manager of MapQuest, stated that the company aimed to be part of the conversation while providing an app that keeps the names users are familiar with. The surge in popularity follows a similar decision by the company last year regarding the Gulf of Mexico. While Apple Maps has yet to officially announce its plans, the administration announced that the change is part of the official federal geographic names system.

Sources