Nokia 'rescues' iPhone users with free Here maps app to replace Apple's effort

Nokia has launched its own 'Here' maps for iPhone - a direct attempt to replace Apple's maps.

The app, which offers points of interest and Google-style searches, as well as sat-nav directions, is free, and available now in App Store.

It works on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices with iOS 4.3 or later.

It has also been tweaked to work on iPhone 5.

Apple's Maps - a rare mis-step for the company - caused howls of protest from users, who complained that the maps had few points of interest, were difficult to search, and had inaccuracies.

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Michael Halbherr, Nokia’s executive vice president for location services, said at last week's launch the app was made “on the off chance that there are some iPhone users who want a different map.”

Apple’s Maps app – which replaced Google Maps in the new iOS 6 – caused howls of protest from users.

CEO Tim Cook issued a rare public apology to iPhone and iPad users after the release of the app – even suggesting they might use alternatives such as Microsoft’s Bing maps.

Nokia’s free app will also be available for Android, although this version has not appeared yet.

Nokia is to buy a start-up called Earthmine to provide 3D street views for the maps.

New Nokia smartphones such as the Lumia 920 already have an ‘augmented reality’ app where users look through the phone’s camera and see local attractions highlighted in text on screen.

‘Here’ will build on this sort of hi-tech use of map data.