Maps.me currently has 1,500,000 users, having increased in number from one million since mid-November, when purchased by Mail.ru. In 2015, Mail.ru plans to open a source code for Maps.me, allowing data on users to inform future adaptation of software. Maps.me offers offline-maps and navigation for mobile devices, based on OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. MAPS.ME supplements for Android and iOS allow users to upload detailed maps of any place in the world without worrying about roaming or Internet costs. MAPS.ME maps work even without network connection and locations can be saved in favourites, for future reference.
OpenStreetMap works on the same principle as Wikipedia — allowing users can add and edit, plotting not only houses and streets but country roads and lanes. More than 1,800,000 people have done so already, while the algorithm of data compaction allows supplements to be updated quickly and the size of the download is minimal. Mail.Ru Group (a Russian Internet Company) purchased the popular MAPS.ME project, created by Belarusians developers, in November 2014.
By Mikhail Svetlov
