Maps & navigation is one of the most-used mobile application categories. Depending on the usage report or survey maps typically come in second or third after games and weather.
We also know that Google Maps on the iPhone has been very successful. While it’s much less “robust” than Google Maps (and Navigation) for Android it’s a “strategic” app nonetheless.
I’ve been wondering for some time, as Apple builds its mapping assets (through acquisitions and new hires), whether Google Maps will eventually “get the boot.” Apple has a “geo-team” internally that has been working on something for well over a year.
Last week 9 to 5 Mac reported on a job posting at Apple for an iOS Maps Application Developer. Here’s the job description:
Come work for the team that revolutionized the mobile technology industry as it continues to define what computing looks like in a post-PC era. The Maps team is looking for a proactive and hardworking software engineer to join our team. Along with excellent skills in object-oriented software design and programming, the successful candidate will have real-world experience developing sophisticated user interfaces. Excellent communication skills are also a must, as you will be collaborating closely with Apple’s peerless human interface team to add new and innovative features.
In 2009 Apple bought Google Maps competitor Placebase. Last year it bought a Google Earth-like product called Poly 9.
Google serves sponsored links on iPhone maps and Apple might figure it would like to do that, as well as provide its own mapping experience. All the signs point to this.
Google could still have its own mapping app for the iPhone. And ironically getting replaced as the default mapping provider might motivate Google to release navigation finally for the iPhone.
Regardless, methinks Google Maps’ days as the default mapping provider on iOS devices may be numbered. What do you think?
March 28th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
[...] reading here: Is Apple Preparing to Boot Google Maps from the iPhone? Posted in Allgemein, Iphone – Tagged iPhone, mapping-provider, methinks-google, might-figure, [...]
March 28th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
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March 28th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
It must ‘bother’ Apple that most every native iOS app that is ‘local’ calls out to the google API for maps. I’m sure Apple believes they can enhance app and end-user experience and functionality here, not to mention removing this widespread hook Google has into the iOS ecosystem.
In a related area, it’d be very nice to have a Apple-supplied car navigation app standard with iPhone/iOS, that’s one very visible area where Android clearly wins today.
March 29th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
Yes. This is one of the few clear advantages of Android — Google Navigation