Techniques for use in a wireless communication device for displaying a map are described. The wireless device receives via a user interface a selection of a hypertext link object in an electronic file or message. The hypertext link object is associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) string which includes a server address and location data corresponding to a location. When a mapping application is installed in the wireless device, the wireless device executes the mapping application for rendering a map of the location indicated in the URL string in response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object. When the mapping application is not installed in the wireless communication device, the wireless device executes a web browser of the wireless communication device for receiving and displaying a map image of the location indicated in the URL string in response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object.