Google Maps

Google has updated its Maps service on Android, iPhone and iPad to include local ads related to user searches.

Almost a year to the day since Facebook announced its big-ticket acquisition of Instagram, rumours abounded about another megadeal: an acquisition of WhatsApp by Google. Although subsequently denied, it has raised some interesting issues.

Google’s revamped Maps for iOS service was downloaded more than 10 million times just 48 hours after it was released.

Google launched an SDK to enable developers to integrate with the Google Maps app which has just been launched for iOS.

The Google Maps service has returned to Apple’s App Store after the iPhone maker removed it as a pre-installed service and replaced it with its own, flawed, Apple Maps product when iOS6 was introduced.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has suggested that iPhone customers use third-party apps or services while the company fixes its widely-criticised Maps service.

Amazon has added a Maps API to the tools that are available as part of its Mobile App SDK.