Google Maps is pushing for iOS

Much criticized Apple Maps are increasing under pressure

The criticized Apple Maps for iOS 6 got fresh competition, because Google Maps is now available again for iPhone and iPad. As if that weren't enough, Google is also putting pressure on the developer side. A new developer kit also makes it easy for third parties to use Google Maps in their iOS apps. In view of the growing competition - Nokia Maps for iOS was recently released - it is becoming more and more important for Apple to get the quality and image of its own map service under control.

iPhone Google Maps

Rabobank analyst http://www.rabobank.com Hans Slab already assumes that Apple could aim to take over the navigation specialist TomTom in order to be able to make corrections to Apple Maps more quickly. "If it came to that, it would be about much more," emphasizes Annette Zimmermann, Principal Analyst, Consumer Markets & Technology at Gartner http://www.gartner.com , in conversation with pressetext. Because that would create a basis for location-based services that will be significantly expanded in the future.

Apple under pressure

Apple's map service quickly emerged as an Achilles' heel of iOS 6. Right from the start there was constant criticism of inaccuracies. This week even the police in Victoria, Australia, warned against relying on Apple Maps, as users are stranded in the middle of a national park instead of reaching the town of Mildura - a media disaster. "That was too much wind about nothing," says Zimmermann, however. Problems with potentially dangerous misformations - right through to cars parked in lakes - finally also occurred again and again with other map and navigation services.

But the strength of the competition is absolutely real. With the release of Google Maps for iOS 6, many users get exactly what they have wanted since the new operating system version was launched. Thanks to the new developer kit, Google can justifiably hope that many third-party apps will also rely on the proven map service. "Apple has already come under pressure that around three weeks ago Nokia brought its Maps to iOS," emphasizes the Gartner analyst. Because the map service of the Finns is at least as good as that of Google.

Opportunities for the future

Despite the unfamiliar PR debacle for Apple, the in-house map service could well establish itself on the market as a serious competitor in the long run. Zimmermann points out that the group has already brought card competencies into the house through takeovers. A possible takeover of TomTom - Rabobank analyst Slab indicates a 30 percent probability of this - would be interesting from the Gartner analyst's point of view, especially with a view to future location- and context-based offers. "If you have a company with so much map data, that creates a very good foundation for it," she explains.

The appearance of Google Maps has dispelled concerns that Apple could dodge the competition by rejecting an app. The group should not underestimate this, however. After the start of the new Google Maps in iTunes, US media reported that there were problems with the download for a while. Some observers suspect that this was due to a very high demand, because many Apple Maps users are frustrated or unsettled about the quality of the Apple service.

(ck)

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