Nokia mulling own free map app to compete with Apple, Google

Nokia is reportedly mulling its own free map app to compete with Apple and Google, scheduled to debut before year's end.

According to CNET, Nokia's map apps will not require an online connection to generate driving directions. The apps would also be geared directly toward individual consumers rather than toward Nokia's usual business customers.

However, Nokia already offers a map app called Here Maps, which is available for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone. The app initially supported the iPhone and iPad, but Nokia pulled the app last year over issues with iOS 7.

Nokia's apps will let users download maps and search for directions offline. The navigation itself will come through satellites, so the maps won't require Internet access to work. Users of Google Maps can trigger an offline mode to use downloaded maps, but the app isn't ideally designed for offline use, report said.

Nokia Here executive Sean Fernback said that he is convinced people are looking for alternatives, and pGoogle Maps is a good solution for many, their maps work very well, but it has looked the same and done the same for a long time, the report said.