Apple has made another attempt to redeem the resounding failure of its Maps app, acquiring another map-centric company to try to catch up on Google’s cartographic lead.

Apple has purchased the company Embark, whose site claims it “makes mass transit simpler”. The service helps users plan trips, providing them with interactive maps and up-to-date alerts. Apple is being customarily quiet about the buy-out, saying in a statement: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

Criticisms started on the first day of the launch of Apple Maps last year, slammed for its poor performance and numerous inaccuracies; some of which included a city being marked as a hospital and a nursery misidentified as an airport. Apple has been plugging Embark and other competitors in its scramble not to lose users over the Maps debacle.

The acquisition is the latest in a spree of internet-map services purchase by Apple and Google in the last twelve months.

A countdown of Apple Maps’ greatest inaccuracies has been compiled by Forbes magazine.