The MapQuest iOS Maps API essentially takes the default iOS mapping tools a step – or a few steps – farther, by offering features currently unavailable to iOS developers, such as integrated driving directions and the ability to choose between licensed MapQuest and MapQuest-OSM data and map tiles. Getting started is a breeze; the iOS Maps API uses the same object model as the default iOS mapping tools, so it is an easy, drop-in replacement. Simply download the API toolkit and samples, add the MQMapKit framework to your project, and ensure that the import statements are referencing the MQMapKit framework. That’s it! Code samples are included with the download and the Developer Network Forums are always a great resource for answering questions and meeting other developers who use MapQuest APIs.

The iOS Maps API 1.0.1 release also incorporates enhancements and bug fixes that have been made as a result of feedback provided by developers on the Developer Network Forums, Twitter, meetups that we have attended, and MapQuest Enterprise Solutions developers who have already started to build applications based on the beta releases. This release improves overlay rendering and memory and tile usage and fixes iOS 5 MapKit incompatibilities that were reported during the beta. A full changelog is included with the release notes, so be sure to take a look.

Not an iOS developer? We’ve still got you covered. MapQuest offers many options for mobile developers:

• Android Maps API – The Android Maps API is available to Android developers who wish to incorporate the MapQuest platform into native Android applications.
• Mobile Flash Maps API – The Mobile Flash Maps API is available to Flex developers who create native Android and iOS applications by utilizing the ‘build once, deploy everywhere‘ functionality included in the Flex SDK.
• JavaScript Maps API – The JavaScript Maps API supports touch gestures and can be used to create feature rich browser-based mobile Web applications.
• MapQuest Web Services – The MapQuest Web Services can be accessed directly by any client capable of making HTTP requests, so if the previous options are not a good fit for your project, the Web Services are yet another option available to mobile developers.

We love to hear from our developers! Tell us about the great applications you have built with the MapQuest mobile APIs, either by posting on the Developer Network Forums, or tweeting us!

Both APIs have been designed as “drop in” replacements for the native Google mapping APIs.  To switch simply include our API instead of the native API.  We used the same object model as the native API, while of course extending it to add great features such as integrated driving directions plus the ability to use OpenStreetMap data or our licensed datasets.

Just like all of our APIs, our native mobile APIs feature no preset limits on maps with our free Community Edition license.  See the Terms Overview for a fuller explanation of our license options and limitations.

Both the Android and Apple iOS Map APIs come with a full set of samples to show off many of the great features available, which include:

Android Maps API

• Advanced routing options and ability to display the route directly on the map
• Built-in geocoding and reverse geocoding
• Smooth animation when zooming/panning
• Ability to rotate the map
• Support of shape and image overlays
• Developer’s Guide

Apple iOS Maps API Beta

• Advanced routing options and ability to display the route directly on the map
• Reverse geocoding
• Smooth animation when zooming/panning
• Support of shape and image overlays

For those interested in using OpenStreetMap data, simply don’t pass a key and the API will automatically default to using OpenStreetMap data and services.

So in summary, you can replace your native API with hardly any effort and get more features plus no preset limits on map transactions!  What are you waiting for?  Check out the documentation and samples at the following links:

Android Maps API

Apple iOS Maps API (Beta)

Please let us know what you think on our forums and please please tell us about any great apps you’ve built.  We’re excited to see what you come up with.