Google Maps have received a boost in popularity following the release of the iPhone, according to online news site GigaOM.The phones, which were released in the US on June 29th and are set to be launched in the UK on November 9th through the carrier O2, are said to possibly "be the best the thing that has ever happened to Google Maps".
Speaking to GigaOM, Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president of search products and user experience, said that usage of the map application notably increased following the release of Apple's iPhone.
"Maps usage hasn't stopped rising," since the launch, she added.
Last month, Google added an up-to-date traffic information service to its Maps application for a number of cities across the US, including New York, Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco.
The feature allows users to access information concerning how congested a route is and how long they can expect their journey to take them.
Intended as a time-saving service, the traffic predictor may well prove a hit with mobile web users who can now access such information through their phones.
In contrast to the success of Google Maps, however, YouTube has not experienced similar popularity on the iPhone.
Despite receiving heavy promotion on television as part of Apple's advertising campaign, "YouTube on iPhone has not caused any major upsurge in viewing," GigaOM reports.
