Nokia has silently pulled down its GPS navigational HERE Maps from Apple App Store, owing to some recent changes made to the iOS7 that harm user experience.
Launched November 2012, Nokia has pulled down its HERE Maps from Apple App Store, redirecting users to the web version of the maps at m.here.com when a download is attempted.
Nokia isn't very happy with the recent changes made to Apple's latest mobile OS, iOS7. As a result, the Finnish maker has silently pulled down its HERE maps, which once offered a navigation alternative to Apple device owners when the iPhone maker was suffering with its mapping feature. Several iPhone users downloaded the HERE maps, but realized that the app did not match the level of performance it delivered on the Windows Phone platform.
"We have made the decision to remove our HERE Maps app from the Apple App Store because recent changes to iOS 7 harm the user experience," a Nokia spokesperson said in an exclusive e-mail statement to Indian Express. "iPhone users can continue to use the mobile web version of HERE Maps under m.here.com., offering them core location needs, such as search, routing, orientation, transit information and more, all completely free of charge."
Based on the review by Indian Express, the app's performance was not up to the mark. While Nokia's HERE Maps worked efficiently on its home platform, the Windows Phone, it was not remotely close to delivering a similar experience on iOS. The app crashed several times when tried to zoom in and out and would skip the medium zoom so users could look for alternate routes, says the report.
HERE Maps is one of the three main businesses owned by Nokia. Following the purchase of Nokia, Microsoft has licensed the mapping feature in a 10-year agreement, which lets the software maker integrate the application on all Windows Phone devices.
HERE Maps are now available only on Windows Phones and on most Nokia handsets. Meanwhile, Google continues to offer its Maps app on Android, iOS and also on Windows Phone.
