While iOS users wait for the Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) to launch its new Google maps app for iOS, Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) has seized an opportunity and beaten Google to punch. Nokia’s ‘HERE’ is a free mapping app and is powered by NAVTEQ mapping data. Key features include live traffic information, public transportation data, voice-guided walking navigation, and plenty more. ‘HERE’ also works offline, so basically it works even if the data connection is lost. It even has voice guided walk navigation.
Some key features of ‘HERE’ are:-
- Works even if data connection is lost.
- Maps, searches, and geographical coverage for nearly 200 countries.
- One can sign into HERE app through Nokia account or Facebook login.
- Step by step voice guide navigation.
- Search with history and suggestions.
- Map views help to pick the map you need from map view, live traffic view, public transport line view, or satellite view.
- Save map areas & wander without data coverage.
- In selected countries, access community maps created and updated by users.
- Share places with just a tap, including the location and how to get there, over SMS, email, or social networks.
“Maps are hard to get right – but location is revolutionizing how we use technology to engage with the real world,” said Nokia’s Corporation (NYSE:NOK) Executive Vice President of Location & Commerce, Michael Halbherr, who is responsible for ‘Here’. “That’s why we have been investing and will continue to invest in building the world’s most powerful location offering, one that is unlike anything in the market today”.
Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) also revealed that the future versions of ‘HERE’ would come up with some additional features like 3D capabilities. The handset maker is rolling out the new mapping service on its Microsoft Windows Phone handsets, as well as versions for Google’s Android and Mozilla’s Firefox OS.
Unlike Apple, NOKIA ‘HERE’ is a no-cost mapping app. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) earlier terminated its partnership with Google Maps and built mapping solutions completely in house, which was widely criticized for problems like rendering issues and incorrect location data. One of the major limitations of Apple’s solutions is the lack of Google’s Street View option, but by linking mobile Safari with the Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Maps web app in October with limited functionality, the company has tried to compensate for the same.
The Internet search giant, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is believed to come up with its own stand alone iOS app that may release soon, as rumors claim the company is distributing near final versions of the software to outside testers.
