What's App

Apple Maps Teams Up With Foursquare

Khurram Aziz

Apple is reportedly in talks with location-based social network Foursquare in an effort to resuscitate its maligned Maps App for iOS 6.

The Wall Street Journal says that the two companies could collaborate to add user tips, ratings, local businesses and points of interests to Maps App.

"The talks, which took place in recent weeks and involve Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue are the latest sign of Apple's plans to more tightly integrate local services into the iPhone and iPad," said the Wall Street Journal.

Apple released its iOS 6 version of its Maps App in September, together with the release of its latest iPhone 5 smartphone. However, the smartphone app, which replaced Google Maps, became one of the company's worst product launches in recent years with users complaining the navigation service was incomplete and misleading.

The incident led to a public apology from Apple's CEO Tim Cook and led to the departure of Scott Forstall - the former senior vice president of iOS software. Since then, Cook has promised to fix all the problems with Maps App and the company is looking to vastly improve the service.

Foursquare is a popular smartphone app, rebuilt this summer, which allows a user to let their social network know where they are. The app allows someone to "check-in" on any point of interest in the world, using their phones location based service, and update their Facebook or Twitter feeds on information for that place.

Using Foursquare's local data could help Apple better compete with Google Maps by providing more in-depth knowledge of an area. Apple has already joined forces with Yelp this summer, creating built-in support for the social reviews site which gives recommendations on restaurants, clubs, and bars.

Google, meanwhile, re-launched its Google Maps for iOS last week, which reportedly generated more than 10 million downloads from Apple's App Store in the space of 48 hours according to a Google+ post by Jeff Huber, Google's SVP of Commerce.

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