> Google maps gave everyone a free [view] on the earth in a time where you had to pay for maps on your expensive navigation system. It took OpenStreetMap a whil

> Google maps gave everyone a free [view] on the earth in a time where you had to pay for maps on your expensive navigation system. It took OpenStreetMap a while to do the same. Comparing the [history of OSM](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/History_of_OpenStreetMap https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/History_of_OpenStreetMap) with the [history of Google Maps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps#History) I'm not entirely sure about that statement. OSM started in 2004, Google Maps was announced in 2005. No information on quality at that time, though :)