Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman at Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), has said that the rumors regarding Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) working on a new Google Maps project for Apple’s iOS 6 are not true. He told reporters in Tokyo that Google has “not done anything yet” to ready a Google Maps program for the latest version of iOS.
We reported earlier this week that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) had released their own version of Maps, with the help of Tom Tom, however, the app appears to be a total failure in the eyes of users and analysts alike. Gizmodo called the app an “apocalyptic horror show”, and Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) also offered some heavy criticism of the app in a blog which compared their in house Location Platform to Apple’s Maps application.
All in all, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) surprised everyone when they failed in this respect. The company has been known for years as a bastion of top rated products. However, the Maps application is just proof that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a company made up of human beings. It should be noted that one expert in cartography, or map making, claims to be able to fix the existing application’s errors, though it doesn’t appear that Apple has taken him up on his claims.
Schmidt didn’t go so far as to indicate that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) had no plans to develop an application for iOS 6. However, reporters felt that he gave a distinct vibe of Google holding their cards carefully. It could very well be that Apple and Google are in talks, regarding the development of a new application. While I find this idea very believable, I also find it ironic, considering that Apple developed their application for the express purpose of leaving Google behind.
Maybe Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) should admit that its competitor is better at something than they are. There would be no shame in that at all. After all, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) will never make an iPhone, and Apple will probably never be the number one search engine in the world. Each of the two companies has its strengths and weaknesses, and maybe its time they realize that together, they could be an unstoppable force. However, I doubt that will ever happen, as Apple has seemed intent on taking Google down for quite some time now.
The recent months and weeks have been good to both companies, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) hitting all time highs earlier this month, and Google reaching a new all time high just yesterday. The two tech giants seem to have a corner in their respective fields of strength, and it will be interesting to see which one comes out of its comfort zone in the future, in order to compete with the other on their turf. Will Google release a smart phone powered by its already popular Android OS, or will Apple launch a search engine to compete with Google? Who knows? We will have to wait and see.
