All the major map apps like Google Maps, Bing Maps, and Mapquest have walking directions as a standard feature, but the folks at Lumatic (http://lumatic.com/) don't think they are good enough. It is creating mobile maps designed for pedestrians, cyclists, and people who use public transit. Originally a TechStars company (http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/05/techstars-2010-boulder/) called Omniar, serial entrepreneur Scott Rafer (MyBlogLog, Lookery, Mashery) joined as CEO a year ago.
He recently raised a seed round of $800,000 from Joi Ito's Neoteny Labs, 500 Startups, Chamath Palihapitiya, Allen Morgan, Ted Rheingold, and other angels.
Lumatic has an Android app (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lumatic.ap) which works right now only in San Francisco. When it gives you directions, it chooses routes (http://blog.lumatic.com/post/16847790476/lumatic-routing) which are optimal for walking, cycling or public transport. As you walk through the streets, the app displays a street-view with photos and arrows pointing in the right direction.
The app is built on top of Open Street Map (http://www.openstreetmap.org/), but the user experience is centered heavily on using photography, landmarks, and visual cues to help people navigate cities. Fighting Google Maps in this category is going to be a tough slog, but if the app can gain a following there plenty of money in local commerce and advertising to make it a worthwhile pursuit.
TechCrunch