Maps + Compass On iPhone To Still Use Google Maps? [Apple Still Going To Use Google Maps Data In iOS 5, According To Blog Rumors, Apple Not Ready To Unroll Their Own Mapping Service For iPhone 5?]

Posted on TFTS by Kevin Schram on Friday, 27. May 2011 under: Mobile/Cell Phones

Apple and Google have gone from the greatest allies to being fierce enemies in the mobile space. WWDC is coming closer, and with it speculation on iOS 5. It’s now being reported by the Mac blogs that despite the competitiveness between Apple and Google, Apple will continue to use Google Maps data for the built-in “Maps + Compass” application.

Back in 2009, Apple acquired a mapping company named ‘Placebase’, and last year, they acquired a company named ‘Poly9’ – also a mapping company. With a shopping list like that, you may think that Apple was set to replace Google Maps as the mapping provider in the Maps application.

A clarification, Apple makes the Maps app/utility in iOS, although it uses data from Google Maps. I have seen some Apple fans angered that Google Maps for Android is getting fancy features like 3D buildings and Street View (and other things) while Maps on iPhone is still what it was in 2007. Well, Apple updates that, not Google. So, blame Cupertino.

As many of you are aware, Apple and Google have been in a cold war with each other since Android really came into its own with 2009 with the first Motorola Droid. They’ve been making constant strategic upgrades to their products in an attempt to outdo each other. But, Apple is sticking with Google Maps’ data for iOS 5. I don’t know if it’s because they think that Google Maps is the best, or if their own mapping service isn’t ready, or if they think switching it would wreck all the third-party applications that currently use the mapping service.

Do you think it’s wise of Apple to keep using Google Maps? Or should they switch to something else?