Google Announces Offline Maps and Navigation Coming Soon to iOS

Google has announced that the latest version of Google Maps for Android has an improved offline mode, providing access to turn-by-turn directions and several other features in areas without a reliable cellular data or internet connection. It also confirmed these features will be coming soon to iOS, but did not provide a specific release timeframe.

Google Maps was previously limited to viewing maps while offline, but this update will enable iPhone users to navigate with turn-by-turn driving directions, search for specific destinations and look up information about places, including hours of operation, contact information and ratings, while offline.

Now you can download an area of the world to your phone, and the next time you find there’s no connectivity—whether it’s a country road or an underground parking garage—Google Maps will continue to work seamlessly. Whereas before you could simply view an area of the map offline, now you can get turn-by-turn driving directions, search for specific destinations, and find useful information about places, like hours of operation, contact information or ratings.

Google previewed Offline Maps at Google I/O in May, and will be gradually rolling out the new features to Android and iOS users.

Tags: App Store, Google, Google Maps, offline maps

Top Rated Comments

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tintifax3k

50 months ago

This will be awesome for people like me who travel abroad and can download Maps beforehand!

Rating: 7 Votes

taptic

50 months ago

Microsoft's here app has been doing this rather well for the past couple of months now. 5 gb download for turn by turn, completely offline directions in the United States. And it has maps for almost everywhere, not just the US.

Of course I'll be happy to see which provides more information along with the maps etc.

Rating: 4 Votes

Good User Name

50 months ago

Apple Maps is going to be forever playing catch up, it seems. Apple should've just started paying the royalty to Google several years ago instead of being cocky and stubborn by deciding to go it alone. Heck, Apple is still trying to roll out transit directions and is doing so at a slow pace.

Apple stopped using Google for mapping because it was cocky, stubborn, and didn't want to pay a royalty? What's the source for that info?

Rating: 3 Votes

err404

50 months ago

It was never about being cocky or stubborn. It was about Google wanting access to user data that Apple wouldn't hand over. Google thought they had Apple over the barrel, but Apple ramped up their own maps and dropped Google. It's just business. Apple's model has always been to avoid being dependent upon any single vendor. Tim always has a back out plan.

Rating: 3 Votes

thasan

50 months ago

eh, whatever... ;) i am lucky to have ditched google maps about a year ago. use apple maps for location in UK and its been pretty good with constant improvemnts (your experience might vary) and here maps for driving. both are fantastic at what they does. and im happy to keep google out of my device!

Rating: 2 Votes

GenesisST

50 months ago

Two years ago I bought TomTom for US and Canada for this exact purpose. Would love to get rid of 2GB, but then again, I have a 128GB iP6 about half-full... OCD much?

Rating: 2 Votes

maxsix

50 months ago

That's a terrific warm and fuzzy story suggesting that Apple is on high. At the top of the mountain looking down on "their people" ... protecting them, Apples keeping them safe from harm.

A vast number of iPhone users actually believe this. They believe the Apple corporation is not like the rest, that Apple is not hyper focused on fat profits (as all corporations rightly do ) but more concerned with protecting their flock.

With a pile of evidence so high you can't see over it (our cash) the faithful sing Apples praises. A very impressive demonstration of the power and control of the late Steve Jobs.

Rating: 2 Votes

DavidLeblond

50 months ago

Coulda used this 3 weeks ago during my honeymoon in Paris. I took a snapshot of Paris on Google Maps and didn't realize until we were lost in the middle of the city that it didn't record road names.

Rating: 1 Votes

naeS1Sean

50 months ago

This will be great! I love Google Maps. They are always updating it with new stuff. Offline would have been helpful a year ago when I went to a concert in the middle of nowhere and was on dirty roads...lol ;)

Rating: 1 Votes