But only in the Google Maps app. Nowhere else. If you have a GIS system, that is able to use Google Maps as the basemap, you still don't have the ability to sa

But only in the Google Maps app. Nowhere else. If you have a GIS system, that is able to use Google Maps as the basemap, you still don't have the ability to save it for offline use. The APIs/libraries/license agreement with Google that these GIS systems use won't allow that. Not that other providers (Bing, Here, etc) are any better. Your only way is to download OSM data/obtain local ortophoto and make your own tiles.