Frantic iPhone users can breath a sigh of relief this morning. Google Maps is now available for the latest verision of IOS.
Nearly three months after the Google GOOG +0.10% Maps mobile app was kicked off the iPhone in favor of Apple Inc.'s AAPL -0.44% own mapping software, Google Inc. released a downloadable version of the app, spelling relief for many Apple users who had complained about the switch.
Google Maps appeared on Apple's app store late Wednesday, less than four weeks after The Wall Street Journal reported that Google was putting the finishing touches on the app for Apple devices and was preparing to submit it to Apple for approval.
In September, when Apple kicked off the Google Maps app that had been preinstalled on all iPhones and iPads since 2007, its Apple Maps software was met with widespread criticism for inaccuracies, prompting an apology from Apple CEO Tim Cook. Apple has been working feverishly to improve its mapping service as the company spars with Google, whose Android mobile operating system powers smartphones and tablets that compete with the iPhone.