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Apple Had Over One Year Left on Google Maps Contract

By - Source: The Verge

Apple terminated its contract with Google early, believing Google Maps to be falling behind.

By now, you've probably heard over and over again about how much Apple's iOS 6 Maps application failed. Apparently Apple was just as surprised as we were. According to a source that spoke with the folks over at The Verge, Apple and Google still had another year left on their licensing contract. Meaning, Apple could have kept Google Maps for its iOS 6 and iPhone 5 launch, it just decided not to.

In what would certainly become a decision they later regretted, Apple decided to create its own app. According to the source, Apple felt Google's maps application was falling behind, particularly noting the absence of turn-by-turn navigation. Seeing as how Android is Apple's biggest competition, it makes sense for the company to launch its own maps application, as long as it can compete.

Unfortunately for Apple, the iOS 6 maps isn't quite ready to compete with Google Maps. But hey, if they can poach a few of those Google Maps developers, maybe the app will have a chance after all!

 

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There are 42 Comments.
Top Comments
  • 26
    house70 , September 28, 2012 12:41 AM
    busuanThere are only three independent map data providers, TomTom, Nokia and Google. The latter two make competing products of iPhone/iOS. So Apple's choice was obvious as no choice. By all means, it's good to have Apple to be a new independent factor.And, since when people curse a phone because it's not a good GPS/Nav device?

    To answer your question, it's been going on since the advent of smartphones that fail to do what they claim to do. you see, the way you put it, this is JUST a phone, hence expectations are too high. But it's not; it's touted as THE smartphone to have by it's manufacturer and it's fan base, something that just works.
    Well, it doesn't work. That's why people get pissed.
  • 16
    ELMO_2006 , September 28, 2012 12:43 AM
    Well it's kind of ironic that Apple would dump Google Maps with one year left in the contract, but then Apple to have it's Maps app fail so miserably.
    If Apple buried it's pride, it could have kept Google Maps for the remaining year thus to provide Apple the necessary time to polish off the app instead of submitting a half baked app!
  • 21
    restatement3dofted , September 28, 2012 12:44 AM
    busuanAnd, since when people curse a phone because it's not a good GPS/Nav device?


    Since companies started marketing smart phones as GPS/navigation devices? These companies are making GPS functions a main selling point of these devices, and so it makes perfect sense that people would complain when those features don't work as advertised.
  • 18
    michaelssw , September 28, 2012 12:47 AM
    someone hit 88 mph on that road
  • 15
    hexiv , September 28, 2012 12:47 AM
    Maybe I don't understand what turn-by-turn navigation is, but doesn't Google Maps/Navigator have that? I use it all the time...and have been using it since my Galaxy S a few years ago...I have an SIII now.
  • 15
    therabiddeer , September 28, 2012 12:52 AM
    busuanThere are only three independent map data providers, TomTom, Nokia and Google. The latter two make competing products of iPhone/iOS. So Apple's choice was obvious as no choice. By all means, it's good to have Apple to be a new independent factor.And, since when people curse a phone because it's not a good GPS/Nav device?

    I use my phone as my GPS as do tons of other people. If your phone suddenly has horrible GPS, then you lose a huge functionality.
  • 10
    basketcase87 , September 28, 2012 12:53 AM
    hexivMaybe I don't understand what turn-by-turn navigation is, but doesn't Google Maps/Navigator have that? I use it all the time...and have been using it since my Galaxy S a few years ago...I have an SIII now.

    It does on Android, but didn't on iOS. Apparently one of the big sticking points for Apple was that Google was unwilling to add turn-by-turn nav. to the iOS app.
  • 14
    gm0n3y , September 28, 2012 12:55 AM
    I guess the people working at Apple have let their success go to their heads and actually believed that they could beat Google at their own game with little work. Next they are going to add their own search engine and block Google.com.
  • 11
    kartu , September 28, 2012 1:16 AM
    busuanThere are only three independent map data providers, TomTom, Nokia and Google.

    Oh yeah? And which of those 3 are used by Bing? Is it Nokia or TomTom?
    Surprise: NEITHER of the mentioned companies is producing map data.
    They all buy it from other suppliers.

    Here is more on it: http://www.maproomblog.com/2005/10/google_and_its_mapping_data_providers.php
  • 13
    ubercake , September 28, 2012 1:23 AM
    I heard the faulty Apple maps application convinced quite a few Foxconn employees that the cafeteria was off the edge of the roof!?
Other Comments
  • 26
    house70 , September 28, 2012 12:41 AM
    busuanThere are only three independent map data providers, TomTom, Nokia and Google. The latter two make competing products of iPhone/iOS. So Apple's choice was obvious as no choice. By all means, it's good to have Apple to be a new independent factor.And, since when people curse a phone because it's not a good GPS/Nav device?

    To answer your question, it's been going on since the advent of smartphones that fail to do what they claim to do. you see, the way you put it, this is JUST a phone, hence expectations are too high. But it's not; it's touted as THE smartphone to have by it's manufacturer and it's fan base, something that just works.
    Well, it doesn't work. That's why people get pissed.
  • 21
    restatement3dofted , September 28, 2012 12:44 AM
    busuanAnd, since when people curse a phone because it's not a good GPS/Nav device?


    Since companies started marketing smart phones as GPS/navigation devices? These companies are making GPS functions a main selling point of these devices, and so it makes perfect sense that people would complain when those features don't work as advertised.
  • 18
    michaelssw , September 28, 2012 12:47 AM
    someone hit 88 mph on that road
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