The name of the body of water between Mexico and the United States has been officially changed from ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to ‘Gulf of America’, with major mapping services such as Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Bing Maps reflecting this change.
The name of the body of water that borders both Mexico and the United States has been a topic of discussion in recent months. In January, the Trump administration issued an executive order directing official U.S. maps to update the name from ‘Gulf of Mexico‘ to ‘Gulf of America.‘ This change is now being reflected on various mapping platforms.
Apple Maps was the first to make the change, updating its app in the United States to display the gulf as the ‘Gulf of America.‘ This update occurred on February 11. According to Bloomberg, Google and Microsoft-owned Bing Maps have since followed suit, with both companies confirming that they will also show the new name.
Apple Maps was first introduced in 2012 as a replacement for Google Maps on iOS devices.
Initially, it faced criticism for its inaccuracies and lack of features.
However, over the years, Apple has made significant improvements to the app, adding features like indoor maps, traffic updates, and street view.
According to a survey, Apple Maps usage increased by 20% in 2020, with users appreciating its ease of use and integration with other Apple services.
Today, Apple Maps is considered a viable alternative to 'Google Maps' , offering a seamless navigation experience for iPhone users.
Google has stated that it updates its maps quickly in response to changes made in official government sources like the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). This is a longstanding practice for the company. As a result, users of Google Maps in the United States will now see the gulf referred to as ‘Gulf of America,‘, while those in Mexico will still see the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ and all other countries will see both names.
Google Maps was first introduced in 2005 as a web-based mapping service.
It quickly gained popularity for its accuracy and ease of use.
The app was later developed for mobile devices, revolutionizing the way people navigate their surroundings.
Today, Google Maps offers real-time traffic updates, street view imagery, and turn-by-turn directions.
According to Google's own statistics, over 1 billion people use Google Maps every month, making it one of the most widely used mapping services in the world.
Apple has noted that the change will also be rolled out for global users at a later date. However, it’s worth noting that not all changes are being implemented uniformly. For example, Denali, the tallest mountain peak in North America, is still referred to as ‘Mount McKinley‘ on many mapping platforms.
Microsoft has stated its commitment to providing users with accurate and up-to-date information. In accordance with established product policies, Bing Maps will update its nomenclature in the United States to reflect the Geographic Names Information System’s changes, including changing the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America.‘
It’s not just maps that have undergone change at Google. The company has also updated its Google Calendar to remove previously referenced holidays such as Pride month and Black History Month. According to a statement from Google, this decision was made in an effort to streamline the number of holidays on its calendar.
