Initial Transit Maps to launch in roughly half a dozen cities following iOS 9 launch

Apple’s sexy new mass transit directions for Maps will hit in iOS 9.

And they’ll be available to you as long as you live in the right cities.

Sources have stated that, in its first iteration, Apple’s Transit service will only support approximately a half-dozen cities across the United States, Canada, and Europe, in addition to China.

In the United States, the planned launch cities are San Francisco and New York, while Toronto will be likely Canada’s sole representative for the iOS 9 Maps Transit feature at launch. In Europe, Apple is said to be gearing up to first launch the feature in London, Paris, and Berlin.

Apple has recently sought to accumulate more traffic data in North America and Europe and is working with longtime partner AutoNavi to source transit data for China. Pre-existing agreements currently prohibit Apple from collecting its own transit maps data in China, according to a source, and Apple already utilizes AutoNavi data for pre-existing Maps features for iPhones in China.

In addition, Apple looks to be considering Boston, Massachusetts and Tokyo, Japan as its next two priority cities after the initial launch, but Tokyo support may be farther out due to the region’s expansive transit service offerings. Los Angeles may be a lower priority.

Apple currently plans to unveil its Maps Transit features at its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote address on Monday, June 8th. Besides this new Maps feature, Apple plans to introduce a new systemwide typeface called San Francisco, a Home app for controlling approved HomeKit devices, several security and optimization upgrades, enhancements to the Messages and Health apps, iPad split-screen apps, and a new built-in keyboard.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via 9to5Mac