I'm rolling my eyes at the idea that, since both Android and Google Maps are currently a net *loss* for Google, rather than a net gain, it somehow makes 'more financial sense' for them to spend money on it than it does for Apple, which currently has a financial gain associated with iOS.
Currently, each dollar Google spends on Google Maps goes into a product that *costs* them money.
Currently, each dollar Apple spends on Apple Maps goes into a product which *earns* them money.
The idea that it makes 'more financial sense' for Google to spend that dollar than for Apple to spend that dollar makes no sense. The fact that Apple Maps reaches a smaller audience than Google Maps has absolutely no bearing on which makes 'more financial sense'.
If I can, for a cost of $1/each earn $.50/each from a million people, would it make 'more financial sense' to do that, or to spend that $1/each to earn $1.10 from a quarter-million people?
Does that clear it up?
I don't agree that the number of users has no bearing. That is a ridiculous premise. The internet practically runs on page views, and attached to that is adverts which makes things sustainable.
Even if Maps loses money, which is doubtful, the use of maps is not limited to Android. iOS users can and do use it on their browser and more importantly, people can use it on their computer browser, independent of any OS, Ubuntu, OSX, Windows, etc.
Before my smartphone days, mapquest was my go to to print out directions, now supplanted by Google maps. Maps draws in many eyes. Can Apple leverage the same? Can you access Apple Maps through the browser? Google Maps, even if a net loss, which is highly doubtful, undoubtedly plays a large part in making Google an indispensable part of your life. Look at the outcry now that the limited version of maps has been removed. Google insidiously makes their products so useful that you'll be questioning how you got along without it before.
Imagine if Apple created a search engine. Imagine that Apple's search results were comparable to Google's, maybe even a little bit superior. However, the caveat is that only iPhone users and people with Apple computers could utilize the search.
Compare that against Google search which is device independent. If you can connect to the internet, you can use Google search.
Where will the advertisers go? Where will the money flow to?
Android does not define Google. Google Maps does not define Google. Google defines Google. They provide a service.
Apple? Apple's identity is hugely tied into iOS and is largely defined by the iPhone and iPad, with Macs taking a seat in the back row.