Google Maps for iOS surpasses 10 million downloads in under 48 hours

Google Maps for iOS surpassed 10 million downloads within the first 48 hours of being available.

People hated Apple Maps. Australian police even blamed it for almost getting tourists killed. Users were obviously clamouring for an Apple alternative to maps and they got it two days ago when Google dropped its mapping app on iOS 6.

"We're excited for the positive reception of Google Maps for iPhone around the world," wrote Google's senior vice president of commerce & local Jeff Huber in a recent Google+ posting.

"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 seven-plus years."

Google Maps have set the standard for mobile phone mapping systems. Up until this year it came standard on all iPhone and iPad devices. However, with the release of iOS 6 Apple dropped the beloved maps app for its own directions application.

The news of Google's map comeback comes after Apple's spotty attempts to makes its own maps app for iOS devices. Apple's maps were so bad that company chief executive issued an apology for the blunder.

The maps were even so reviled that they reportedly led Apple to fire two executives. Vice president of the iOS platform Scott Forstall resigned from Apple last October. While senior director of the iOS platform Richard Williamson was let go in November.

So good job Google, people like your maps more than Apple's maps. If statistics are true they also prefer your entire ecosystem to Apple, so good work on that too.

18 Dec 2012