The growing rivalry between two of the world’s most innovative tech giants has reached a new level. Apple plans to bump Google Maps as the default mapping app from iPhone and iPad, the present and former Apple employees reported to Wall Street Journal. Apple has developed its own mapping app with 3-D mode, which will be an integral part of iOS 6.
Not very long ago Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) were the best of friends, and they shared some of the board members. But in the past few years they have become fierce competitors in key markets such as tablets, smartphones and advertising. Therefore the companies have grown apart, and the biggest blow is the removal of Google Maps from Apple devices. Apple has used Google Maps since 2007.
“Apple is going after the map market to have more control over a key asset in the widening smartphone war,” reads WSJ report. “So Apple believes controlling the mapping experience and offering features that Google doesn’t have can help sell more devices and entice developers to build unique apps for iPhone users.”
Apple’s plan is to have a “holistic” technology that integrates maps with other Apple software to give a better user experience. For example, if the iCalendar app of a company executive knows that he has a meeting at 10 a.m. in Plaza Hotel, but there is high traffic jam on the way, the app will instantly alert about the road conditions. Apple has also purchased Poly9, C3 Technologies and Placebase to bolster its mapping capabilities.
Google hasn’t been silent either. Last week, it announced to unveil the “next dimension of Google Maps” just before Apple kicks off the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 11.
