Apple has reportedly completed the acquisition of mapping company Embark, Digital Spy said.

The start-up builds applications that help users find their way around public transport systems in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and more.

Embark employees will be integrated into Apple's Maps team in a bid to improve the much-criticised service, according to former Wall Street Journal editor Jessica Lessin.

The news follows confirmation that Apple has acquired transit navigation service HopStop, and supports rumours that it is planning to add transit information to Maps.

The firm also purchased GPS navigation start-up Waze for an estimated $1.3 billion (£833 million) in June.

Apple Maps launched with iOS 6 last year, but was heavily criticised at launch following reports of misplaced landmarks, absent towns and cities, and obscured satellite imagery.