As Google Maps Disappears In iOS 6, Google Remains Cagey About Releasing Its Own App

The latest version of Apple’s operating system for iPhones and iPads, iOS 6, is now out. As people upgrade, the Maps application previously powered by Google is now being replaced by Apple’s own homegrown one. Not everyone’s happy. Will Google release its own Google Maps app for iOS 6 users? The company, in its latest statement, remains unclear.

I asked Google today if we’d be getting a Google Maps app, and if so, when and also if it would include turn-by-turn navigation. Here’s what I was sent back:

We believe Google Maps are the most comprehensive, accurate and easy-to-use maps in the world. Our goal is to make Google Maps available to everyone who wants to use it, regardless of device, browser, or operating system.

Let’s parse the statement. It sounds like Google wants its own app for iOS 6 — hence the “regardless of device” part. But it’s not confirming that this will happen soon or why it’s not already happened.

Is Apple somehow blocking it? If so, Google’s not saying. Is Google holding back for some strange reason? Again, we just don’t know.

Stay tuned. It seems likely Google will want to release its own app, just like it did to rectify with the situation for YouTube being dropped as a default application in iOS 6. The YouTube app is now number one in the iTunes free apps chart, after being out for only a week.

Google Maps, of course, remains in iOS 6 via the browser. It’s a less convenient way of using it, but it even offers features such as traffic:

I’m not sure if the message “the same Google Maps, now in your mobile browser” is a new one that Google has added anticipating this release. If so, it’s smart. If not, it still caught my eye.

We’ll bring more when we get it, along with our own review of how the new Maps feature in iOS 6 stacks up against what iOS 5 had as well as Google Maps for Android.

Postscript: Please see our follow-up articles:

• Local Search Cage Match: Google Vs. Apple Maps (And Siri)
• The Good & Bad Scenarios About Why Google Hasn’t “Done Anything Yet” About Google Maps For iOS

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