Ask.com launches Google-style maps

Sometime in the last week or so Ask.com launched a brand new map and driving direction service that definitely takes more than one cue from Google Maps. In fact, its basic functionality works pretty much exactly like Google Maps'. You can click and drag the map and zoom just like with Google Maps and it has street, satellite, and hybrid ("mixed") views like you're accustomed to. Once you dig a bit deeper, however, you can discover some more novel features. One of my favorites, and one that I've been wishing for a long time that other services had, is the ability to specify several waypoints for multi-stop trips. Another is the "Play" button that will walk you through driving directions step by step. Ask.com's new maps also let you choose walking directions rather than driving, a feature which our own Judith Meskill was bemoaning the absence of not long ago. Unfortunately, the service is currently quite a bit slower than Google's and also lacks the integrated local business search Google Maps provides, but it's an impressive start.

[Via Lifehacker]

Tags: ask, ask.com, directions, google, mapping, maps, routes