Did NAVTEQ Really Launch a “Rival” to Google Maps?

NAVTEQ’s PR from yesterday noted a new company beta website that highlights the company’s data offerings. Part of it (the main feature actually) is a routing tool using NAVTEQ and Europa Technologies data (at least in my geography).

TechRadar suggested the “rival” issue in its headline: “Navteq launches Google Maps rival Beta site offers advanced road navigation options.”

So, is it a real rival?

For my money, at this point, no. It is a nice way to show off the company’s street and traffic data, which is per the company, the point. I found the aesthetics wanting. (Why “Arlington, Town of” and not just “Arlington” in the labeling, for one?) I was confused by “Dynamic Map” On/Off. I could find nothing in the help explaining the difference. And, with the advent of AJAX, a “non-dynamic map” (one where you can’t pan at will, a slippy map) feels dated.

The app did locate my machine correctly (by IP I guess?) and the routing worked ok, though I had to put in far more detail to get an address geocoded that I believe I need in Google Maps. And, by default, my route was calculate in km. (I’d think if the company knew I was in the U.S. it might default to miles. But you can change that preference.) The MapTP icon (no idea what that stands for) turns on/hides a combined navigation tool that includes a locator map, zoom in/out, and 3D management.

Local Search, Directions and Traffic (find shortest route) have separate tabs and I found myself flipping between them several times while putting together a route.

The most handy features of the site include delivery of the most up-to-date NAVTEQ out there (so it may be newer than what’s on your favorite portal), the ability to send directions to several brands of phones and satnavs (including the “gone in the US Navigon”) and the integration of Map Reporter, the company’s tool to report errors.