Google Maps for iOS Downloaded More than 10 Million Times

[MacRumors]

According to a Google+ blog post from Jeff Huber, Google Maps for iOS turned out to be a success, with more than 10 million downloads just 48 hours after the app was released last Wednesday night.

We're excited for the positive reception of Google Maps for iPhone around the world. Congratulations to the Maps Team on the recognition for the passion and hard work they poured into it, for this release and over the last 7+ years.

If you already have it - thank you, and please tell a friend. Any feedback you have is welcomed, here in G+ or in the app (just shake it).

Google Maps was highly anticipated by users who were unhappy with*the rampant errors in Apple's built-in mapping solution. Criticism over Apple Maps led to the restructuring of Apple's iOS software team, and a public apology from Tim Cook.

Google Maps shot up to the number one free app on the App Store within a day of its launch, and today it maintains a 4.5 star rating with more than 20,000 reviews.

Though 10 million is a significant number,*it still represents just a fraction of iOS users. Only three days after iOS 6 was released on September 21, Apple announced that it had been downloaded onto more than 100 million devices.

The number of iOS 6 downloads has likely increased quite a bit over the last three months, indicating that the majority of iOS users have chosen to stick with Apple's Maps application rather than switching to Google Maps, despite the rampant complaints about the quality of the built-in app.

Google Maps is a free app that can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Google Maps for iOS Downloaded More than 10 Million Times

[longofest]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

...Google Maps for iOS turned out to be a success...

No crap

[Drag'nGT]

I hate to admit it but I downloaded it as well. I use it as a back up at the moment but its on my phone just in case. It's interesting the lengths that we/Apple had to go through to get the Google Maps app that we all wanted, part of it at least.

[rcappo]

Steve Jobs wouldn't want me to download it.

Apple Maps will get better, and is faster than Maps in iOS5 still.

Google Maps still isn't the best at bicycling directions, even though that is a feature, and they haven't 'fixed' the routes to take you on slow speed roads in all places yet. There needs to be different colors based on the different types of bike paths (bike/pedestrian walkway = thick green, bike lane/good shoulder = thin green, high speed road = red, no shoulder = maroon, neighborhood road = yellow, offroad = brown, normal roads = orange, good trips around a city = blue)
And let local users update the conditions and routes. Or Apple could do this and be better.

[Irock619]

Originally Posted by rcappo

Steve Jobs wouldn't want me to download it.

Pathetic much?

[nope7308]

"The number of iOS 6 downloads has likely increased quite a bit over the last three months, indicating that the majority of iOS users have chosen to stick with Apple's Maps application rather than switching to Google Maps, despite the rampant complaints about the quality of the built-in app."

A more plausible explanation is that the remaining iOS 6 users simply have no use for mapping software, and so they have no need/motivation to replace Apple Maps.

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Apple customers have "indicated" their preference - that's pure conjecture.

[bobbytallant]

Originally Posted by nope7308

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Apple customers have "indicated" their preference - that's pure conjecture.

Thank you that's the point I was making - it's spin.

[garybUK]

"Tell a friend"... so we can make money off their location and searches too....... no thanks big G.

[sha4000]

Not again.

[Klae17]

Oh good. Now my phone takes me to Starbucks instead of Dunkin Donuts.

[Waxhead138]

Originally Posted by Klae17

Oh good. Now my phone takes me to Starbucks instead of Dunkin Donuts.

My friend, he have handbag too......

[maxosx]

Some of the anti-Google people posting, are sure filled with hate. It makes one wonder why they have so much emotion invested. Apple & Google are both good companies.

[Rogifan]

Originally Posted by maxosx

Some of the anti-Google people posting, are sure filled with hate. It makes one wonder why they have so much emotion invested. Apple & Google are both good companies.

I'm still trying to figure out why someone comes to a site like MacRumors to remind people what a great company Google is. Why do you care? I mean I'm not going to sites like androidauthority.com defending Apple. I honestly could care less what they think/say about Apple.

----------

Originally Posted by TechieGeek

Nah man, Apple makes the best looking hardware and a pretty end user experience. Gotta hand it to Apple though, their customer support is awesome.

But let's not get carried away with saying best hardware or best OS

In your opinion.

[lunaoso]

Originally Posted by Klae17

Oh good. Now my phone takes me to Starbucks instead of Dunkin Donuts.

Best comment of the day!!! I have angry bird toooo. He live at factory and try to steal my lunch!

Downloads don't really matter as a stat for apps. The big thing is how long people keep it on their device. To be fair to Google though, there is no iPad version, so that could play into the downloads as well.

[macnisse]

ok, downloading now...

[bobbytallant]

More macrumors spin - somehow manages to represent the story as pro apple. I am very much an Apple fan but can accept their failings (and their competitor's better offerings).

[Andy-V]

A huge success for a 3rd party app in such a short time.

[Roessnakhan]

Not to mention it has 20k ratings with a 4.5 star average. Huge success.

Too bad Apple probably won't recognize its success, it would probably be a shoo-in for best app of 2012.

[Rogifan]

Originally Posted by Roessnakhan

Not to mention it has 20k ratings with a 4.5 star average. Huge success.

Too bad Apple probably won't recognize its success, it would probably be a shoe-in for best app of 2012.

Why, just because its better than Apple's maps app? Or because it really is THE best app in the AppStore? I haven't used it much, hence why I'm asking.

[PBF]

Originally Posted by Roessnakhan

Not to mention it has 20k ratings with a 4.5 star average. Huge success.

Too bad Apple probably won't recognize its success, it would probably be a shoe-in for best app of 2012.

INCORRECT:

wala
dejavoo
shoe-in

CORRECT:

voilà
déjà vu
shoo-in

[iChrist]

Originally Posted by Roessnakhan

Not to mention it has 20k ratings with a 4.5 star average. Huge success.

Too bad Apple probably won't recognize its success, it would probably be a shoo-in for best app of 2012.

Funny thing too. Apple gets no money for it b/c it's free. But they have to use their servers and bandwidth to dish their competitor product to their customers.

It burns.

[Swytch]

Originally Posted by Roessnakhan

Not to mention it has 20k ratings with a 4.5 star average. Huge success.

Yeah but how many of those ratings are people simply giving it a high rating cause they are pissed at apple's maps solution and havent even tried the app yet? I mean realistically can you give a fair review of a maps app you have had for 2 days and maybe used 20 times only in your city?

The fact is, Google has rampant map errors (as many have pointed out) that do not get the publicity that apples errors do. I wonder how many people will complain about google maps now that errors in mapping apps have been brought in the spotlight?

I also dont see how you base any free app as a success based on the number of downloads, should be based on the number of people that actually use it more than like 10 times... I have downloaded plenty of free apps that I didnt intend on using at the time (and still havent) but i downloaded because its free and I might want to use it someday... in fact I just downloaded all the Halfbrick games because they are free for 24 hours even though none of them have any interest to me. Also there are some programs that give rewards just for downloading (and sometimes you have to actually use it for a bit) certain apps, that could really alter download numbers statistical significance too.

Im sticking with Apple maps as it is more accurate and gives a much better user experience in my opinion than Google maps on any platform I have used ever has. This is partially due to the turn by turn navigation I have wanted since getting an iPhone, and google adding it now is just plain too late, sorry nice try.

[samcraig]

Originally Posted by bobbytallant

More macrumors spin - somehow manages to represent the story as pro apple. I am very much an Apple fan but can accept their failings (and their competitor's better offerings).

I'd also say that 1 in 10 is pretty significant (based on 100 million) when you consider how many people claim their maps work just fine.

[wjlafrance]

Originally Posted by samcraig

I'd also say that 1 in 10 is pretty significant (based on 100 million) when you consider how many people claim their maps work just fine.

Right, and 9 in 10 didn't download it, which is probably why 90% of people claim their maps work just fine.

Note that the 1 in 10 includes people like myself who downloaded it to toy around with, to realize Google still doesn't have 3D of their town and shows your apartment as a corn field (admittedly, as does Apple maps), and won't actually be using it.

[samcraig]

Originally Posted by rcappo

Steve Jobs wouldn't want me to download it.

Seriously?

Originally Posted by wjlafrance

Right, and 9 in 10 didn't download it, which is probably why 90% of people claim their maps work just fine.

Note that the 1 in 10 includes people like myself who downloaded it to toy around with, to realize Google still doesn't have 3D of their town and shows your apartment as a corn field (admittedly, as does Apple maps), and won't actually be using it.

So you're saying that 10M is not significant? Is that right? Really? Ok. Feel free.