Google Now Showing Ads On iPhone Map

We got a tip from Anthony Avolio yesterday, who pointed out that Google was showing ads on Maps on the iPhone. Until then I hadn’t noticed it. This is another way in which Google seems to be aligning the mobile experience with that on the PC. I asked earlier on my blog “Who Owns Maps […]

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We got a tip from Anthony Avolio yesterday, who pointed out that Google was showing ads on Maps on the iPhone. Until then I hadn’t noticed it. This is another way in which Google seems to be aligning the mobile experience with that on the PC.

I asked earlier on my blog “Who Owns Maps on the iPhone?” because the Google Maps app is like quasi-“public property” given that it is used by so many other apps and is the “official” mapping tool for the device. Yet the ads are pretty unobtrusive:

Picture 225

Picture 224

One person suggested to me that Apple might be sharing in the click revenue generated through the app. However I would be quite skeptical of that. I also wonder whether Apple has an opinion about it or is indifferent to Google doing this.

There are a number of people who believe that it’s now just a matter of time before Apple introduces its own substitute maps for the iPhone, but that very much remains to be seen.


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.


About the author

Greg Sterling
Contributor
Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land, a member of the programming team for SMX events and the VP, Market Insights at Uberall.

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