Google Maps app rockets up iTunes store list

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google Maps have found their way back to the iPhone, and the new alternative was already the top-ranking free app in Apple's iTunes store on Thursday.

The world's most popular online mapping system returned late on Wednesday with the release of the Google Maps' iPhone app. The release comes nearly three months after Apple Inc replaced Google Maps as the device's built-in navigation system and inserted its own maps into the latest version of its mobile operating system.

By noon on Thursday in the United States, users had chimed in with more than 10,000 reviews of the Google app. Nearly 90 per cent gave Google maps a five-star rating - the highest possible grade. Despite the quickly rising popularity, Google's solution still wasn't listed among the 18 recommended mapping apps in iTunes as of early on Thursday afternoon.

Apple declined to comment about Google's map app, but it approved the technology before its release. Apple's maps application proved to be far inferior to Google's, turning what was supposed to be a setback for Google into a vindication.