Homebrew Google Maps effort TA Maps makes jump to Marketplace

One of the most popular Windows Phone 7 apps, if Google has actually ported it to Marketplace, would have been Google Maps, but since the company has been pretty negligent of WP7 users, a homebrew effort to using Google Maps data by TechAutos has been pretty welcome.

Now TechAutos Maps v2.0 has ben released, and for the first time it is an official Marketplace app, available to all.

TA Maps uses sources like Google Maps and OpenStreetMap and gives better coverage in many parts of the world than Bing Maps. 

The app features:

• Scrollable/zoomable maps
• Street/satellite views
• GPS location tracking
• Search
• Favourite locations
• Driving mode (keeps map centred on GPS location)
• GPS sensitivity settings
• Smoothly restores your last map view and pushpins

It is however important to note that the app does not at present include driving directions, but the developers promise that this will be coming and also additional map/search sources, and more point-of-Interest data in upcoming updates.

Unfortunately TA Maps is $1.99 with no free trail, so we have not given it a go to see how good it is.  TA Maps can be found in Marketplace here.