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Apple, Google, and the map wars
- hopeless 16y agoI've always wondered how/why Google provide maps to any iPhone app... normally such commercial usage will cost you $10,000 (per app/website). I assume there is a commercial agreement and Apple has paid major $$$ on behalf of their developers. If Google decided to withdraw that agreement, it would leave a large whole in many iPhone apps.
- ZeroGravitas 16y agoThis is one of those areas, like the OS kernel or browsers, where the losers need to gang up on the current winners by collaborating on an open platform, like Linux, Webkit, or in the case of maps, OpenStreetMap. Mapping the world, like building an OS or web renderers is just too much for each company to do themselves and the value deliverd is multiplied by wide uptake. They need to figure out a way to add value on top of that open platform, and a way for 3rd parties to add value to that open platform too. Building your own silo just slows you down. Is Apple really getting the benefit of building on OS X rather than Linux? I've heard it said before, but not recently, so the benefits seem minimal when upstarts like Palm are turning up with exciting looking phone and tablet OSes seemingly out of nowhere. Will Apple spearhead this open map thing in the same way they kicked off Webkit and led with HTML5? I doubt it somehow, doesn't seem to be in their DNA despite most of the interesting stuff they do having this characteristic recently.