Nokia HERE Maps Debuts on iOS App Store

Welcome to HEREiOS 6 users still suffering with Apple’s new Maps app may have just gotten some relief as Nokia has made good on its promise with the arrival of HERE Maps, a free universal mapping solution for iOS.

Nokia has released HERE Maps to the App Store, a free, universal map solution based on the NAVTEQ data which powers 90 percent of in-car navigation systems worldwide.

“HERE Maps helps you feel like a local anywhere you go,” the app description reads. “See where you are, search and discover nearby places, and get a feel for the place. Collect places to remember or for later discovery. Explore new destinations and know instantly how to get there on foot, by car or on public transport.”

Nokia is placing particular emphasis on travel by foot or public transport, and with good reason: HERE Maps includes step-by-step, voice-guided walking navigation, including pedestrian routes, parks, alleyways and more, as well as public transportation and driving directions.

Public transportation, in particular, has been a thorn in the side of city dwellers since the arrival of iOS 6, which Apple has left entirely in the hands of third-party app developers. HERE Maps should offer some much-needed relief for what ails those in big cities.

HERE Maps can sync with a Nokia account (Facebook login is also available), allowing users to access their map Collections from anywhere on the Here.net website. The free, universal app is a mere 3.7MB download, which will require an internet connection to use unless you save map data to your device before heading out.

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