This is more a shift in perception of what online maps are taken for. Online maps were traditionally made for one purpose only, car navigation, not to show a complete picture of the world.
And the only commercially geodata available in digital format, from a few specialized companies, were for car navigation in lucrative markets (like the US and Europe). It wasn't a given that online maps work properly or show more than base coverage outside those regions.
Only recently maps providers started integrating user created content.
OSM as a whole is also surprisingly sparse outside those established markets.
Just a reminder, back in 2007 Mexico wasn't even covered by Google.
And the only commercially geodata available in digital format, from a few specialized companies, were for car navigation in lucrative markets (like the US and Europe). It wasn't a given that online maps work properly or show more than base coverage outside those regions.
Only recently maps providers started integrating user created content. OSM as a whole is also surprisingly sparse outside those established markets.
Just a reminder, back in 2007 Mexico wasn't even covered by Google.
http://google-latlong.blogspot.de/2007/09/more-of-world-for-...