



So one of the reasons OpenStreetMap doesn’t really live in the limelight on its own is because it’s not really a go-to destination in its own right - it’s more of a back end, an API for third-party developers to tunnel through for their own apps. Other major companies that use some OpenStreetMap data include Foursquare and the mighty Apple. It’s completely free, and a number of well-known apps make use of OSM maps and data, including the Telenav-owned Skobbler and MapQuest. in 2004, OpenStreetMap is managed by the OpenStreetMap Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that survives largely on donations and contributions from the public and institutions. While it doesn’t always garner the same fanfare as others in the space, OpenStreetMap is actually one of the four major online mapping platforms, alongside Google Maps, TomTom, and Here - the latter of which was sold by Nokia to a consortium of car companies last year.įounded out of the U.K. In fact, it’s often referred to as the “Wikipedia for maps,” as anyone, anywhere in the world can contribute to the data. For its maps, the company uses OpenStreetMap, which is an open, editable platform.
