Google Maps are going through the final testing stages of the app for iOS handsets to make up for the disappointment of Mapplegate.
“Google has been putting the finishing touches on the app before submitting it for approval to the Apple iTunes store, this person said, though it is unclear exactly when that will happen,” an anonymous source was quoted by the Wall Street Journal (WJS).
The test version has already been outsourced for feedback in effort to give the go-ahead before submitting it to Apple. The company is aiming at a release before the end of the year.
The latest development follows complaints about the substandard experience of Mapplegate, the in-house Maps app for iOS.
Tim Cook, Apple Chief Executive, apologised for the low standard as uncharacteristic of Apple.
Collaborating with Google has also been a rather bumpy ride, the Wall Street Journal reports. The companies took a while to finalise agreements regarding the contract considering remuneration and rights.
Google has also been involved in the development of an independent app for iPhones and iPads after Apple gave up their right to the preloaded version previously pre-installed on all devices. The latest YouTube app is one of the most popular iOS apps currently.
Nokia is also working on a mapping app. It features driving directions, tips for places of interest and pointers to public transport in the area for drivers and walkers. The company announced they will launch their iOS adapted app by the end of the year.
