Nokia sticks boot into Apple Maps

Finnish mobile phone manufacturer Nokia has stuck the boot into Apple over its much-maligned new Maps app.

Nokia developer Pino Bonetti has taken the tech giant to task over the application in a blog post, stating: "We truly understand that maps and location-based apps must be accurate ... and we also understand that 'pretty' isn't enough."

Bonetti goes on to benchmark the navigation apps of the Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III and Nokia Lumia 920, highlighting issues around the lack of public transport information, orientation and the ability to work offline with Apple's Maps.

He also cites recent IDG research that suggests 77 per cent of people use their smartphones for GPS navigation. However, according to Nokia's map-based infographic, Apple's "voice guided turn-by-turn navigation" is unavailable in at least half the world, including Australia, much of Central and South America and all the BRICS except Russia.

The iOS 6 Maps app has been widely ridiculed for its poor graphics and inaccuracies.

A search for Luton' took IT Pro to a small village in Devon, rather than the better known and larger town in Bedfordshire.

Meanwhile, the Wiltshire town of Salisbury was listed as seven separate locations in and around Edinburgh.

Jane McCallion is ITPro's Managing Editor, specializing in data centers and enterprise IT infrastructure. Before becoming Managing Editor, she held the role of Deputy Editor and, prior to that, Features Editor, managing a pool of freelance and internal writers, while continuing to specialize in enterprise IT infrastructure, and business strategy.

Prior to joining ITPro, Jane was a freelance business journalist writing as both Jane McCallion and Jane Bordenave for titles such as European CEO, World Finance, and Business Excellence Magazine.