In a nutshell…

It’s bleedin’ Google Maps, with GPS support on your phone! Why do we give a monkey’s? Well, wielding the power of Google Maps is one thing, but with satnav support and oodles of extras not found in Google’s own app, this is a tasty twist that’s super useful.

Judgement time!

MGMaps, or Mobile Google Maps, has several strokes of genius. The work of one man, it’s a triumph of mobile programming/geekiness. Fire it up and you’ll get a familiar Google map, which you can overlay with information or use to navigate your way around.

There’s support for overlays including Wikimapia, tube maps and traffic info. You can even tap in web addresses of KML files to track down shared landmarks. They’re all useful additions, although tube maps and traffic info are the most likely to get your attention.

Best of all MGMaps supports GPS, so if your phone has it built in, or if you’ve got a Bluetooth adapter, it can track down your location and give you directions. We put it through it’s paces on an N95 and it seems to grab a GPS signal quicker than the built-in mapping app, and with the power of Google search built in it finds destinations in seconds.

There’s the option to use Windows Live maps too, if you’re no fan of Google, and if you meet a friend without the app you can pass the whole thing on with Bluetooth – handy for rallying the troops and keeping everyone on the right track on a day out.

MGMaps even has the option to track your position online. Set up a web account, distribute the login details and enable tracking on your handset to keep your position marked on a webpage accessible by all your friends. It’ll update as you move around, so your mates can see your progress in real time.

There are still areas for improvement, and some of the language used is a touch on the techy side, but it’s free, useful and has tons of unique features. Check it out for more advanced mapping all round.