It is not in Google's interests to release a Google Maps iOS app - discuss

[redman042]

I expect Google will release an app, but WHEN is another question. Also, will it show ads, and how often?

My guess is Google has already coded the app but they are debating when and how to release it. Google may be in the business of maximizing traffic to their products, but they also want to promote Android, and all this negative press and customer unhappiness associated with iOS 6 is worth a lot.

Yes you can install Google Maps as a web app right now (I have) but many people don't know how/ aren't aware of this option/ won't bother. Plus the web app is far from perfect.

If iOS 6 had come out and Apple Maps was surprisingly good, I think Google would have been scrambling to get their own Maps app out ASAP, to maintain interest in their product.

But since Apple Maps has major issues, I believe Google will let that sink in for a while before releasing their own Maps.

These tech companies are very heavy into strategy. They don't lift a finger without a bunch of analysts doing a ton of homework.

 

[littlepud]

The first thing to understand about Google is that the users are not the customers. The users are the product.

 

[xAnthony]

Question - why would Google bail Apple out at this point and release a Google Maps app? After all, you can go to maps.google.com and get 80% of the functionality of a dedicated app.

I just don't see it happening. It is a big black eye for Apple and Google must be tickled pink. It is a major win for Google and I can see Apple losing customers over it.

Last year - Siri beta (meh)
This year - Apple maps (fail)

Thoughts?

That's like saying here's this giant pile of money you can have, but you decide to walk away from it instead. You can expect a maps app by Google within a few weeks. If not sooner.

 

[b166er]

I'd put out a google maps app and charge people a dollar for it. Not only would most of us be glad to pay for it but it would earn google money. Plus having a cost attached to an app that millions of us will want gives apple the financial motive to approve it since they will take their cut.

It was wrong of apple to think they could pull this off in the time frame they wanted. My opinion about it doesn't matter. The evidence is already on millions of devices and its called Apple Maps in iOS 6. I updated my iPad and I am seriously happy I didn't update my 4S.

 

[iphonefan74]

Of course Google will make a Google Maps app for iOS and you'll pay for it and they'll make money.

 

[EvilEvil]

I believe Google is strategically waiting for the *****how that is Maps enough time to piss Apple customers then out of nowhere they will release their standalone map app.

 

[b166er]

Seriously wait until this weekend when people start getting their iPhone 5's. just wait, this forum will crash with all the threads about how awful maps is, where is YouTube, can I downgrade, etc.

And that's just the software side of this can of worms.

 

[snerkler]

IF google release a maps app will it be as integrated as the last one and will we be able to use it as the default?

 

[Sedrick]

I think Google is really, really enjoying this and will let Apple twist in the wind a bit before it 'comes to the rescue'. iMaps is the one reason I will not upgrade to iOS 6 on anything I own.

 

[snerkler]

I think Google is really, really enjoying this and will let Apple twist in the wind a bit before it 'comes to the rescue'. iMaps is the one reason I will not upgrade to iOS 6 on anything I own.

I've downgraded my iPad (3) back to iOS 5, but have the iphone 5 on order so will just have to put up with it on that

 

[rockman0]

Question - why would Google bail Apple out at this point and release a Google Maps app? After all, you can go to maps.google.com and get 80% of the functionality of a dedicated app.

If that's the case, they wouldn't have released a Youtube app. Google wants a lot of people to see their ads, and a whole lot of people use iOS. Do the math.

 

[shawnwich]

google doesn't even need to put ads on it to make this successful and worth the money and time. they make enough money from companies prioritizing their results in the maps search, and from learning how people use their data to more than make up for it.

 

[cyks]

I think Google is really, really enjoying this and will let Apple twist in the wind a bit before it 'comes to the rescue'. iMaps is the one reason I will not upgrade to iOS 6 on anything I own.

From a business standpoint, that would be completely idiotic.

They make money from people using their apps. With the vast majority of people currently upset with Apple's Map implementation, NOW would be the best time for Google to release their own Map app as almost everyone would download and use it.

If they were to wait, it would not only mean lost revenue for every second they delayed, but would give Apple a chance to fix the problem leaving less people willing to try/ use it in the future and it would show Google in a good light.

If anything, Apple is the one who wouldn't want it released soon. Again, if Google were to release it today, Apple would look like the failure and Google as the savior... not the image Apple wants.

 

[redman042]

I don't think Google will wait long, maybe a month or so. I think they'll wait just long enough for for media attention and iOS user outcry to hit a peak, and then they will release the app. They are getting essentially free worldwide advertising right now from users and media moaning about how Apple Maps is a big step backward from Google Maps. That's worth a lot. They are also getting at least some Android converts out of this.

I think Apple would secretly like to see Google produce a Maps app, and quick. Look at all the outcry with iOS 6! A dedicated Google Maps app would make users happy again and buy Apple time. I have little doubt that Apple Maps will become awesome (in certain locales it already is) but they need time, at least a year, to process and add all the data.

 

[Roc P.]

Speaking of Google Maps, my cousin asked me just now what I though of iOS 6 and I told him I like it overall but prefer the Google Maps App. He had this to say and is now ignoring me:

The biggest and only noteworthy feature of it is a disaster that will likely kill people, yet you like it overall. Cool. I don't think I can talk to you about this stuff anymore, you're not rational when it comes to Apple

 

[Cod3rror]

They can release now, while the discussion is hot and everyone will jump to Google Maps. They get popularity, ad revenue and positioning data.

If they wait Apple will probably improve their own maps and make Google Maps not so needed... or not since it'll take Apple years and Android will have a BIG selling point.

It's a gamble.

 

[jaba813]

The question is whether or not Google will be able to release a maps application. Doesn't Apple specifically prohibit applications that replicate native apps?

 

[iRabbit]

The poor maps data doesn't just affect the maps app either - the 'Find My iPhone' and 'Find My Friends' apps become unreliable too. Geofencing will perform poorly if the addresses you put in are in the wrong place on the map.

These are two things I'm seriously concerned about... it's the map-dependant applications that I use more than the dedicated Maps app itself.

 

[UmichAg]

Google discussed releasing a turn-by-turn version of their Maps app (similar to their Android version) for iOS a couple years ago. It never happened. Why do you think Google would suddenly change their mind and release an updated version for iOS?? The only way I see them doing it is if Apple's version vastly surpasses Google's version.

 

[cynics]

The question is whether or not Google will be able to release a maps application. Doesn't Apple specifically prohibit applications that replicate native apps?

Hmm, that is true. But I think they will spin it and say its significantly different somehow.

 

[Andy-V]

The question is whether or not Google will be able to release a maps application. Doesn't Apple specifically prohibit applications that replicate native apps?

That's not been the case for quite a while now. There's browsers, email clients and even other mapping solutions on the app store.

 

[SatManager]

Google 100% has every intention of releasing it and they already said so publicly. Now whether Apple has any intention of approving it is a whole other story.

Now that is exactly what I was wondering about. The number of people that are currently unsatisfied with Apple's Map would use Google's App. Until Apple fixes the problems that everyone is identifying, and you can guess they are working the bugs out as we speak.

 

[terzinator]

I disagree.

1. Google makes most of their mobile revenue from iOS.
2. The more people that use Apple maps, the better they will get.
3. The fewer people that use Google maps, the worse they will get.
4. See #1.

This.

Doesn't Google get data from every device that runs the app? The loss of millions of user-data points will eventually catch up with Google and make their maps app less relevant, less accurate and less desirable.

I'd think they'd want to get an app up sooner rather than later.

Will apple jump on approving it? Well, you'd think they wouldn't want to, but I think it would be a public relations nightmare if they dragged their heels out of spite.

 

[redman042]

Apple could pull the "duplicates internal functions" card and reject a Google Maps app, but I SERIOUSLY doubt they will. This would infuriate customers. and Apple Maps is far from done.

Apple will do whatever makes sense for Apple. They are the sole authority on enforcing (or not) the App Store guidelines.

 

[bozzykid]

Given Google's revenue from Android is zero, yes.

Google created Android because it didn't want Apple to own the market and be able to shut them out (which turned out to be accurate). But it doesn't make any money from it.

Not true. Google's latest report shows them passing Facebook again in advertising revenue almost exclusively due to the growth in mobile advertising. Android was a huge part of that.

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This.

Doesn't Google get data from every device that runs the app? The loss of millions of user-data points will eventually catch up with Google and make their maps app less relevant, less accurate and less desirable.

Not entirely true considering the growth of Android. The loss of Maps on iOS is probably only a short term blip in their continued growth in maps users. People aren't going to magically stop using Google Maps on the web either. I don't see their apps becoming less accurate any time in the foreseeable future.