Google announced late Wednesday its mapping service was returning to Apple's iPhone, charting a new twist in the two tech giants' mobile map applications rivalry.

"People around the world have been asking for Google Maps on iPhone. Starting today, we're pleased to announce that Google Maps is here -- rolling out across the world in the Apple App Store," Google said in a post on its official blog.

In September, Apple ditched Google Maps as a pre-installed iPhone application for its own mapping service in the newly updated iOS 6 mobile operating system.

But users and reviewers started to complain about the Apple mapping service shortly after it appeared, citing lack of public transit information, geographic errors, incorrect business listings and other flaws.

The mapping service has been seen as a rare product debacle for Apple.

Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook publicly apologized for the flawed service and fired the senior executive responsible.

Google's new mapping app improves on the previous version Apple ditched, featuring long-anticipated voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation.

In its blog post, Google emphasized the "comprehensiveness and accuracy" of its mapping service.

The Google Maps app is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch running iOS 5.1 and higher versions of operating system in more than 40 countries and regions. But the company did not say when it will release its mapping app for Apple's popular tablet, iPad.

Apple has vowed to fix its mapping service, but the improvement has been slow. On Monday, Australian police issued a warning, discouraging iPhone users from relying on Apple's maps after several people recently were stranded in the wilderness following the app's directions. Endi

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