Apple promises to improve iOS 6 Maps "We're also working with developers to integrate some of the amazing transit apps in the App Store into iOS Maps," said Mrs Muller. The app has already been in development for several years. Apple bought small mapping companies as part of an effort to reduce its dependence on Google, which is now one of its main rivals in the smartphone business. Apple has faced a barrage of criticism over omissions and errors since iOS6 was released on Wednesday evening, however. Developers and reviewers noticed and commented on the problems in the run up to the release of the new mobile operating system, expecting improvements that did not materialise. The new Maps app often displays shops and restaurants streets away from their true location, important sites including some train stations are missing, and the search function appears unable to understand simple requests. In Britain, data on local businesses, sourced from the review website Yelp, is sometimes years out of date, and satellite images are not as sharp as Google's. Some places, such as Colchester, were completely obscured by cloud cover. The search function are unable to find Paddington Station and entire towns such as Solihull are not labelled. The locations of long-defunct High Street chains, including the music retailer Our Price and budget clothing store C&A, are available, however. Apple was accused of putting its rivalry with Google ahead of the interests of iPhone owners by effectively imposing a substandard product on them. Google indicated it may introduce a new Google Maps app for iPhone users to install themselves. "Our goal is to make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser, or operating system," a spokesman said. The iPhone's new Maps app was built using mapping information from the Dutch satnav maker TomTom, which sought to distance itself from the problems, blaming them on Apple's software rather than its data. "User experience fully depends on the choices these manufacturers [such as Apple] make," a spokesman said. Technology industry observers suggested the misstep was the most serious made by Apple for many years. Some questioned if the Maps app would have been released in its current state under the firm's meticulous founder Steve Jobs, who died last year. He guided Apple through a decade of huge success on the back of the iPod, iPhone and iPad.