Google Maps and Apple Maps are battling for control of drivers' eyes. Google Maps is the leader in the US, with 67% to 70% of the market, leaving 23% to 27% for Apple Maps.
This is not a surprise. After all, iPhone users can install both of those apps and use whichever one strikes their fancy at any time. Long-time iPhone users might stick with Google Maps, which was the default mapping service for the iPhone from the first release in 2007 to September 2012 when Apple released iOS 6.
Apple launched Apple Maps with iOS 6 in September 2012
Apple dropped Google Maps and the native iOS YouTube app in iOS 6 as the five-year contract between Apple and Google expired. Google built its own YouTube and Google Maps apps for iOS that were available in the App Store, and Apple debuted Apple Maps as a native iOS app.
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At first, Apple Maps was a fiasco, as some countries were mislabeled, and directions were incorrect. Users got lost, and in some extreme situations, as when the app directed drivers to the Outback by mistake, almost killing them.
CEO Tim Cook told iPhone users in 2012 to use Google Maps as an alternative until Apple Maps was fixed
Apple rebuilt Apple Maps from scratch and did a limited rollout in 2018 with iOS 12. A broader introduction occurred in 2019 with the release of iOS 13. Since then, Apple Maps has gone from strength to strength and is competitive with Google Maps.
Apple can improve Apple Maps' share by getting those iPhone users stuck on using Google Maps to switch the default iOS mapping app, while first-time iPhone buyers do the lazy thing and just use Apple Maps.
Tweet from code sleuth pdfu explains what Apple is cooking up for Apple Maps. | Image by X
Each trip saves both figures and is grouped by the day of the week and hour. The time you spend walking back to your car is also tracked.
How this data might be used by Apple Maps in the future
At this stage, the data is not being used by Apple Maps, but could eventually generate more accurate ETA times that include the walk from the car to your final destination. In some situations, a different route that is slightly longer might actually have a shorter walk to the final destination. In such a situation, you might want to opt for a slightly longer drive if the bottom line is that you'll get to your destination a little faster.
Will this be enough to get Google Maps users on iOS to switch to Apple Maps?
I'm not sure whether some new feature like this would be enough to get iPhone users to switch from Google Maps to Apple Maps. However, it could give Apple the impetus to come up with some more data improvements that can deliver more accurate directions and travel time. This could lead more iPhone users to make the switch to Apple Maps.
Right now, when I'm using my iPhone, I prefer using Apple Maps because I feel that it does a better job when giving me a "heads up" when it is time to make a turn. Google Maps has improved in this area, but Apple Maps, by using traffic lights and stop signs as reference points, makes it easier to prepare for an upcoming turn.
Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.
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