Avenza Systems Rebrands Popular Map App

TORONTO (August 10, 2016)— Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher® cartographic software for Adobe® Illustrator® and Geographic Imager® geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop®, has announced that it has officially changed the name of the PDF Maps app, its market-leading, award-winning mobile mapping app, to Avenza Maps, effective immediately. The rename increases the company’s popular brand into a more recognizable global presence and better reflects the functionality and use-cases for the application. Along with the rebrand, the Avenza Maps app features a refreshed app icon and website that aims to cater to various users—both consumer and commercial—that currently use the app for personal and business use.

“This rename from PDF Maps to Avenza Maps comes at a defining moment in the continuation of the product and brand,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza Systems Inc. “We created the app at a time when geospatial PDF files were just becoming popular and have since changed how more than a million people around the world use mobile maps with it. Today, our users obtain maps directly from the Avenza Map Store and directly from their own mapping and GIS workflows, not just as geospatial PDF files but also as GeoTIFF and JPG files. We have created a marketplace and platform that redefines mobile mapping and now is the right time to simplify and adopt the Avenza Maps name.”

The rebranding coincides with the release of a revamped subscription model to accommodate every level of user. The Avenza Maps app and the ability to download as many maps as desired from the in-app map store will remain free for personal-use consumers. New subscription tiers will be introduced to cater to avid users that require more functionality, including the ability to import an unlimited number of maps, to suit enthusiasts and power users who like to import their own maps. The upcoming “Pro” subscription is tailored to commercial and professional users and will include more powerful features needed to conduct work in various industries.

"Helping people produce and use maps is our passion," Doug Smith, Sales Director of Avenza Systems Inc., "We plan to not only grow the Avenza Maps brand, but also to make it even better. The Avenza name is synonymous with high cartographic quality and efficient workflows and many of the maps we provide through the app are created by map publishers who already use our software. Speaking with our customers and industry professionals who use the Avenza Maps app daily helped us understand that the app was not a stand-alone product, but an extension of Avenza’s passion—helping people produce, distribute and use maps in the most effective way possible. Rebranding will allow us to have clearer brand marketing strategy moving forward.”

The Avenza Maps app is an all-inclusive mapping platform for iOS, Android, and Windows mobile devices. Consumers can download the app for free, get georeferenced maps from the Avenza Map Store, and use them completely offline with a variety of tools. Map publishers can register as a vendor in the Avenza Map Store and generate revenue by pricing their maps and making them available for purchase. Businesses and organizations can upgrade to a cost-effective Pro subscription which allows for commercial use, includes enhanced tools and features, as well as enhanced support.