In an open letter to his customers Apple CEO Tim Cook today apologized for iOS 6 Maps’ poor performance, saying the app falls short of the company’s commitment to deliver the best experience possible to its customers.

Cook recommends that, until the Maps app is improved, users try alternative map apps available on the Apple App Store like Microsoft’s Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by creating shortcuts to their websites on an iOS 6 device’s home screen.

As we’ve reported earlier this week, alternative transit apps like HopStop, Embark and Transporter have already seen a significant boost in downloads since iOS 6 was released, and it’s safe to assume Cook’s letter will have a similar affect on the navigation apps he recommended.

Apple’s newly released iOS 6 on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch doesn’t include transit directions in its new Maps app, a feature many city folks relied upon until now. In addition, the features that are in the app have served up misplaced businesses, city name misspellings and distorted 3D images to the users. A Tumblr was created to visually show some of the issues users have been experiencing from the Maps app. Apple told the BBC on Sept. 21 that the Maps app will “improve.”

Cook’s letter is included here in full:

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