American tech mogul Apple on Wednesday officially launched a web version of Apple Maps for users across the world. The public beta of Apple Maps on the web comes bearing the ability to access driving and walking directions directly from the browser, challenging the longstanding dominance of Google Maps in this space.
“Now, users can get driving and walking directions; find great places and useful information including photos, hours, ratings, and reviews; take actions like ordering food directly from the Maps place card; and browse curated Guides to discover places to eat, shop, and explore in cities around the world. Additional features, including Look Around, will be available in the coming months,” the company said in a blog.
The new web-based version of Apple Maps is available at beta.maps.apple.com. It is currently available in English and limited to Safari/Chrome on Mac and iPad or Chrome/Edge on Windows. Apple, however, promises future support for additional languages, browsers, and platforms.
The web version mirrors many of the functionalities found in the mobile app. Users can get directions, view ratings and reviews, order food directly from Maps place cards, and browse curated guides. Apple also plans to integrate its “Look Around” feature, which provides 360-degree panoramic views, into the web version in the coming months.
This expansion isn’t just about convenience. Apple aims to snag a larger share of the online mapping market, currently dominated by Google. Notably, developers using Apple’s MapKit JS can now link directly to Apple Maps on the web. “All developers, including those using MapKit JS, can also link out to Maps on the web, so their users can get driving directions, see detailed place information, and more,” the company added.
The launch comes amidst rising competition in the “digital mapping” space. A report by The Verge noted that Apple’s move follows the Overture Maps Foundation, backed by tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, releasing its first public mapping dataset. This data will be freely available for developers to integrate into their apps, potentially creating further competition.
