Google Confirms It Is Yet To Submit Its Own Maps App To Apple

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Google Maps is gone in iOS 6, but some users are desperate to get it back.
This isn't coming back just yet.

With Google Maps gone from iOS 6 in favor of Apple’s own solution, many are hoping Google will bring its own Maps app to the App Store — as it did with YouTube a couple weeks ago. A recent report claimed that it was already on its way, but according to Google chairman Eric Schmidt, that’s not the case at all. In fact, Google hasn’t even submitted a Maps app to Apple for approval yet.

Shortly after iOS 6 made its debut last Wednesday, it became apparent that Apple’s new Maps app wasn’t quite as complete as Google’s. It boasts some terrific features, such as turn-by-turn navigation and 3D Flyover, but for many, its Maps just aren’t accurate enough. It’s also lacking popular Google Maps features like Street View and transit directions.

With this being the case, a lot of users have been hoping that Google would just develop its own Maps app for iOS for those who would prefer to use Google’s service over Apple’s. One report claimed that Google had done that, and that its app had already been submitted to Apple for App Store approval.

Unfortunately, it seems that report was incorrect. According to Google chairman Eric Schmidt, the company hasn’t “done anything yet” — though it does talk to Apple every day:

“We have not done anything yet,” Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt told a small group of reporters during a visit to Tokyo.

“We’ve been talking with (Apple) for a long time. We talk to them every day,” he added.

This is disappointing news, but it doesn’t mean Google Maps for iOS won’t happen. It just means it’s not happening yet. Google has always been quick to embrace Apple’s mobile platform, despite it being a direct competitor to Android, and it has a growing catalog of iOS apps, including Gmail, Google Search, Google Drive, Google Earth, YouTube, and Google+.

Google Maps could certainly happen, then — if Apple approves it. It’s just a case of waiting a little longer than we had originally anticipated.

Source: Reuters

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