Apple CEO Tim Cook just apologized to the whole world and mostly Apple fans and customers for the failures of the newly unveiled iOS 6 maps.

However, more than apologizing for iOS 6 maps, Tim Cook went a step further and recommended other maps services like the very Google Maps Apple shunned with their new maps service.

The apology and recommendation comes as Tim Cook is being closely watched as the successor to the late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs.

Jobs resigned as Apple CEO on August last year because of health reason with Cook quickly being promoted by the Apple board from COO to the top position. Jobs passed away a few months after in October of last year.

Perhaps more striking than the apology is Cook’s recommendation of other services. In his letter, he said:

“While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.”

The apology comes as the iOS 6 maps function has been made fun of by companies. Apple has also been reported to be actively recruiting former Google Maps developers.

Apple’s new mobile operating system, perhaps because of the changes including the iOS 6 maps function, has had a lower satisfaction rating than its predecessor, iOS 5.

Tim Cook’s full letter to Apple customers can be read after the break:

To our customers,

At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.

We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up.

There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.

While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.

Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard.

Tim Cook

Apple’s CEO

About Solon Harmony Dolor

A passion for technology and journalism makes this upcoming writer very interested in social media and technology news. Fresh from finishing an English and Journalism degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman, he aims to bring interesting news to our readers .