Ordnance Survey, the UK government department responsible for mapping, has launched its first official mobile application for the Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. OS MapFinder is free to download and includes a basic overview of Great Britain; customers can add the same level of detail as printed OS Landranger and OS Explorer maps by buying 10km x 10km ‘tiles’. A 1:50000 Landranger tile costs 69p, while the 1:25000 Explorer tile is £2.49.
All maps are cached on the device, enabling them to be used without a WiFi connection or mobile data.
Peter ter Haar, Director of Products at Ordnance Survey, said “Ordnance Survey prides itself on generating accurate and up-to-date mapping data. Customers have been asking us to extend the ways they can access our detailed and trusted mapping to meet the demands of today’s digital lifestyle. We are delighted to be launching OS MapFinder to give consumers the most up-to-date mapping from just 69p. Customers will now be able to enjoy the same experience as using a trusted Ordnance Survey paper map when exploring Great Britain on the go, at the touch of a screen. OS MapFinder is an extension of our outdoor products with accessibility to our quality mapping in print, online and now on mobile devices.”
An Android version of the app is currently being developed.
[OS MapFinder app]