Google Maps surges to the top spot on Apple App Store's free app list in just 7 hours

Google Maps for iPhone has just become the most popular free application on the App Store, merely 7 hours after it launched on Apple’s catalog. The free Google Maps has gotten a brilliant 4.5 out of 5 five stars rating, and being adopted so quickly by iPhone users is also telling.

We have just wrapped up our in-depth comparison of Google Maps vs Apple Maps, and we have found plenty of good reasons to switch to Google’s application right away.

Google Maps has outranked Apple’s own '12 Days of Christmas' promo app, and even apps like 'Angry Birds: Star Wars.'

If we had to narrow it down to the most important features, Google’s application stands out with its great gesture-based interface, public transit directions, Street View and of course a much better developed backend of points of interest and places.

Google has also brought an SDK with Maps, so that developers can integrate it with their own applications.

• Download Google Maps for iPhone