(By Balaseshan) Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) released its Maps app for Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone after flaws in Apple's own mapping service.
In its official blog, Google said the app shows more map on screen and turns mobile mapping into one intuitive experience. It's a sharper looking, vector-based map that loads quickly and provides smooth tilting and rotating of 2D and 3D views.
"People around the world have been asking for Google Maps on iPhone. Starting today, we're pleased to announce that Google Maps is here -- rolling out across the world in the Apple App Store," Daniel Graf, director of Google Maps for mobile, said in a statement.
To complete the Google Maps ecosystem, Google is also releasing the Google Maps SDK for iOS, and a simple URL scheme to help developers use Google Maps when building their beautiful and innovative apps.
The new Google Maps app is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch (4th gen) iOS 5.1 and higher, in more than 40 countries and 29 languages, including Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.
On November 20, Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) released its rebranded mapping app -- Here -- for Apple devices that runs on iOS 4.3 or later versions. The app comes with driving directions, live traffic view, satellite view, public transport line view and offline view, among others.
On September 28, Apple's Chief Executive Tim Cook apologized for flaws in its own mapping service and directed customers to alternatively use maps provided by Google or Nokia.
Earlier in September, Apple hastily launched its own mapping service when it rolled out highly anticipated mobile software platform update iOS 6. But users have complained that Apple's new map service contained geographical errors, information gaps, and that it lacked features that made Google Maps so popular, according to Reuters.
While Apple is improving Maps, Cook suggested users to try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on the users' home screen to their web app.
GOOG is trading up 1.17% at $705.73 on Thursday, while AAPL trades down 1.05% at $533.32. NOK trades down 1.04% at $3.79.