Time-Saving Tool Eliminates the Need for Users to Know Exact Addresses Before They Access Maps and Directions

MapQuest, the world's leading location based services company, today announced that comScore Media Metrix has ranked MapQuest.com as the #1 directories site for July 2004, recording around 38 million unique users during that time period. The number-one ranking marks the debut of MapQuest in the directories category as a result of a new local directory feature on the site called "Find It," a tool that lets users search for locations of businesses and places in the United States and retrieve maps and directions without having to know the exact address first.

comScore Media Metrix, a division of comScore Networks, provides industry-leading Internet audience measurement services that report details of online media usage, visitor demographics and online buying power for the home, work and university audiences across local U.S. markets and across the globe.

With "Find It," when consumers go to MapQuest, all they need to do is simply type in a business name, business category, or airport in addition to the state or zip code and MapQuest will deliver a list of relevant locations. MapQuest's leading online maps and directions are available within these directory results.

"MapQuest.com has evolved from first offering maps, then directions, to now providing expanded services that include directory search-based tools like 'Find It' for our users. Being ranked the #1 directory on the Web is welcomed news and reflects that MapQuest.com is offering new services to a growing audience," said Tommy McGloin, AOL Senior Vice President and MapQuest General Manager.

"Consumers want an easy to use, fast, and reliable resource to search for and find any location in the physical world, and once they find that location, know how to get there, and find what is nearby," added McGloin.

MapQuest continues to be a leader of maps and directions on the Web, and is also ranked #1 in that category, according to comScore Media Metrix. In addition, MapQuest leads the industry with more than 1,400 business partners who use maps and directions applications on their own websites.

About MapQuest

MapQuest, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc. with offices in Denver, CO and Mountville, PA, has three business segments: MapQuest.com, MapQuest Business Solutions and MapQuest Mapping Services. Ranked within the top 10 most powerful U.S. brands on the Internet by NetRatings and as the number one mapping site and number one directories site by comScore Networks, MapQuest.com is the world's leader in digital location-based services with around 38 million visitors every month. MapQuest Business Solutions is the preferred provider of a full range of mapping, routing, and location-enabled software solutions to more than 1,400 leading businesses across key categories including retail, healthcare, financial, real estate, travel, and automotive. MapQuest Mapping Services is the world's leading provider of custom-mapping content and map-product development for publishers and corporations, producing more than 1.5 billion pages of printed maps every year.

About America Online, Inc.

America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.
 
Contacts 
America Online (for MapQuest)
Brian Hoyt, 703-265-8136
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