Apple is reportedly revamping its Maps app in the upcoming iOS 9 platform. This time, the new app will debut with the Transit Directions feature already unlocked, which means the Cupertino-based company will be adding directions to mass transits in major cities for its app.
This is long overdue for some, as many direction apps that have been launched prior to Apple Maps already have built-in transit directions.
However, it seems that the new feature will not be as all-encompassing as everyone thinks. According to Apple fan and observer site 9to5Mac, only two cities in the United States will be initially included, specifically New York and San Francisco; Canada will have Toronto; and in Europe, the launch of the feature will be in Paris, London, and Berlin.
Apple reportedly has a second list of cities to be included as soon as the new app launches, namely Massachusetts, Boston, and Tokyo in Japan. No official word yet on when Apple plans to integrate the second list of cities on the new app. It is also unclear if Apple plans these cities to only be the testing points of the new feature and if people can expect an expansion in the near future.
Transit directions as a new Apple Maps feature will also extend to China. According to reports, the tech giant is in talks with AutoNavi to source transit data for China, as agreements between Apple and Chinese authorities prohibit the company from directly collecting its own data in the country. AutoNavi has been selected since the company has already partnered with Apple in the past, collating roadways and transit maps for existing Apple Maps features for Chinese iPhones.
