Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Lost no more: Google Maps for iOS gets 10 million downloads in first two days

With all the fuss surrounding Apple Maps, it's hardly surprising that millions of iOS users clamored to download Google Maps immediately upon its release last week.

How much did iOS users want Google Maps back on their mobile device? Ten-million-downloads-in-the-first-two-days, that’s how much.

The much-missed app returned to iOS after a three-month absence following Apple’s decision to replace it with its own Maps software when it rolled out iOS 6.

We knew the free Google Maps app was doing well in the download department, zooming straight to number one in the iTunes download chart almost immediately upon its release last week.

Jeff Huber, Google’s senior vice president of commerce and local, revealed the 10-million figure in a Google+ post on Monday.

“We’re excited for the positive reception of Google Maps for iPhone around the world,” Huber wrote underneath the heading: “More than 10 million downloads in less than 48 hours after release!”

He added, “Congratulations to the Maps Team on the recognition for the passion and hard work they poured into it, for this release and over the last 7+ years.”

While it should be pointed out that 10 million is in fact a rather small percentage of the total number of iOS users, phenomenally fast take-up like that is certainly nothing to scoff at and gives us some indication as to how keen iPhone users are to get Google’s map app back on their devices.

The new app comes with features such as public transit directions, live traffic information, voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation and Street View. While iPad users can run the software on their tablets, an iPad-specific version is said to be in the works.

If Apple Maps had been up to scratch when it launched back in September, it’s possible Google Maps wouldn’t have even got 10 downloads last week, let alone 10 million. The Cupertino company’s software, however, was heavily ridiculed for misplacing locations, offering up erroneous travel directions and lacking features found on Google Maps. The mess even prompted Apple boss Tim Cook to issue a letter of apology to users.

DT recently took a close look at how Google Maps iOS and Apple Maps compare. You can check out the piece here.


Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-maps-10-million-downloads/

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