1. A method of publishing a map, comprising: providing access to one or more map data sources or mapping services that provide mapping information that provides content for a map to at least one publisher; publishing a map by uploading a map comprising mapping information comprising descriptors comprising a channel name and parameters that reference map content and map to a file or database server by the at least one publisher; assigning a map sequence number to the map based on the order of arrival of the map at the at least one publisher; accessing the published map having an assigned map sequence number by at least one subscriber; and downloading the map having the assigned map sequence number by the at least one subscriber, wherein the map is assigned a channel that includes the assigned map sequence number and associated map; and wherein the channel is communicated by the at least one publisher to a subscriber of the at least one subscriber; and wherein the assigned map sequence number and associated map is sequentially available to the at least one subscriber sequentially through the channel.