Telmap has launched its local search and navigation app, M8. The free iOS and Android app enables users to search for nearby restaurants and pubs, as well as deals coupons, through partnerships with TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet and Yelp.

Telmap, which was acquired by Intel a year ago, has long been providing mobile operators – including O2, Orange and SFR – with white-label versions of similar apps. With M8, however, the company has introduced its own consumer facing brand, and seems to be making an effort to go all-out in terms of its feature set.

M8 is essentially intended as Google Maps with bells on. Its range of features include 3D maps; the ability to search from nearby social media action, through Facebook and Twitter integration; and turn-by-turn car navigation, featuring speed cam alerts, traffic conditions info, and customisable voice-guided instructions, with the voices of Wallace & Gromit and Stephen Fry promised in a future update.

“We have decided to take location-based experiences to the next level, bringing together navigation, ultra-local content and services in each of our markets, and social interactions into one true local mate that serves as a one-stop-shop for users on-the-go, available with the most up-to-date information 24/7,” said Telmap chief executive officer Oren Nissim. “We are confident that users will discover the app and immediately realise its great potential to make an impact and deliver value. We, on our end will continue to further enrich the app with additional fun features, local offers, deals and additional services that can answer even a broader set of on-the-go needs.”

Theres also a Spanish version – itll be fascinating to see how that name goes down in a non-English-speaking country – which is apparently customised for the countrys particular needs, with restaurant guide El Tenedor and Paginas Amarillas, the Spanish Yellow Pages, among the partners for its local info. Telmap says the app will be introduced in additional countries in the near future, in some cases jointly with its mobile operator customers.