UPDATED 12:06 EDT / SEPTEMBER 25 2012

When Will We Get a Google Maps App for the iPhone 5?

The discrepancies between using Google Maps and Apple Maps just keep piling up.  Just doing an image search for Apple Maps, and you’ll get flooded with results comparing the two services.  So you can just imagine how Google must be laughing at the kerfuffle Apple brought upon themselves (see our list of iPhone 5 Maps alternatives here).

Former Google CEO and current executive chairman Eric Schmidt was introducing the Nexus 7 in Tokyo when he talked to reporters about the state of Apple Maps.

“In my opinion it would have been better to retain our maps,” Mr. Schmidt said. “It’s their decision, I’ll let them describe it.”

Apple cut ties with Google when they removed Google Maps  as their native maps app on the latest version of the iPhone 5 and the iOS 6.  They added insult to injury by removing YouTube as a default app as well, going so far as to remove it from older devices receiving the iOS 6 update.

It isn’t a secret that Apple Maps is flawed.  Users have complained of misplaced towns, cities, landmarks and businesses, aside from the many errors that occurred when using the new map.  And users can no longer enjoy the Street View that came with Google Maps, as well as walking and transit directions because Apple’s Maps doesn’t have those features.   The silver lining for Google Maps fans is that they can still use Google Maps on their iPhone browser.

When will we get a Google Maps app for the iPhone 5?

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Schmidt stated that Apple should’ve stuck with his company’s Maps service instead of putting their users through all this trouble.  So the question now is, will Google be making a Google Maps app for iOS devices?  According to Schmidt, that won’t likely happen anytime soon as they haven’t done anything on that aspect yet but says, “We’ve been in touch with them for a long time [about Google Maps], and we talk to them every day.”

What Schmidt stated was interpreted as: they haven’t made a Google Maps app for iOS yet; they did make one but hasn’t submitted it to Apple for approval; or they did submit the app and they’re just waiting for Apple to approve it.

It’s not far-fetched to think that Apple would approve a Google Maps app, since they approved the Google Chrome app, which directly competes with their native browser, Safari.  The thing is, if they removed Google Maps from their system, it means they don’t want it.  So there’s a possibility that even if Google submitted an app, Apple won’t approve it.

If you’re still stuck using Apple Maps and is looking for something better, check this out: 5 Practical Alternatives for the iPhone 5′s Terrible Maps.


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