Many continue to look forward to the release of Google’s stand-alone Google [color:fcf7=blue !important][color:fcf7=blue !important]Maps [color:fcf7=blue !important]application for iOS, since Apple’s iOS 6 Maps have been causing issues for a number of users. So far, Nokia has announced that their 'Here' maps
will be coming to iOS in a few weeks, but Google has yet to give anyone
an estimated time of arrival for their Google Maps application.

A report from the Wall Street Journal may finally shed some light
on the progress of such an application. According to the report, Google
has distributed test versions of the Google Maps application to select [color:fcf7=blue !important][color:fcf7=blue !important]iOS [color:fcf7=blue !important]users to preview:







Originally Posted by Wall Street Journal

Google has distributed a test version of its new
mapping app that will work on Apple's iPhones to some individuals
outside the company, said a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
Google has been putting the finishing touches on the app before
submitting it for approval to the [color:fcf7=blue !important][color:fcf7=blue !important]Apple iTunes store, this person said, though it's unclear exactly when that will happen.


The report also informs us that the application will have support
for turn-by-turn navigation, which Apple just brought to their own Maps
application in iOS 6. It may be using a voice similar to the voice used
in Google Now from Google's new Google Search application.

The fact that the application has now escalated to the stages of beta
distribution means that progress is happening. Just last month,
screenshots were leaked showing what was supposedly the Google Maps
application in its alpha stages.

The hard part, of course, may be getting Apple to approve the application in the [color:fcf7=blue !important][color:fcf7=blue !important]App [color:fcf7=blue !important]Store
when it’s submitted. Tons of users have been pushing for the
application since iOS 6 was released and a great number would be highly
disappointed to see an application like this turned down from the App
Store.

If you’re looking forward to the Google Maps application joining the arsenal of Google’s [color:fcf7=blue !important][color:fcf7=blue !important]App [color:fcf7=blue !important]Store [color:fcf7=blue !important]apps, hopefully you shouldn’t have to wait too much longer.