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MapQuest Brings Roadside Assistance Service To Mobile App

New feature provided by Urgent.ly is unique among mapping apps.

Greg Sterling on November 11, 2014 at 12:07 pm

MapQuest has integrated “Uber for roadside assistance” service Urgent.ly into its updated app. What this means is that consumers are able to summon a tow truck or other service provider directly through the app.

Roadside assistance through MaqQuest is available 24 hours a day.

Service fees are pre-negotiated and shown to consumers up front. There’s also a satisfaction guarantee. In addition users can track service vehicles and arrival times, as with Uber.

Urgent.ly CEO Chris Spanos told me in email that for most consumers using Urgent.ly will save money over paying an annual “auto club” membership fee. Urgent.ly also saves time because it identifies and sends the closest service truck available. This beats the typically vague and lengthy “window” estimates provided by auto-club dispatchers.

MapQuest, once the mapping leader, has struggled to innovate and differentiate, although its main app is widely used. The addition of Urgent.ly offers its first truly unique feature vs. competitors. It’s not clear whether the Urgent.ly relationship is exclusive; however I would imagine it is.

Urgent.ly also has its own mobile app. The MapQuest partnership marks a national rollout for the service.

About The Author

Greg Sterling

Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog, Screenwerk, about connecting the dots between digital media and real-world consumer behavior. He is also VP of Strategy and Insights for the Local Search Association. Follow him on Twitter or find him at Google+.