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Why would Google help Apple out? Lack of decent iOS maps doesn't disadvantage Google or Android in any way.

• yen223 14y ago
  Because Google actually wants iOS users to use Google Maps.
  • epo 14y ago
    Really? I'd have thought Google wants iOS users to use Android.
    • arrrg 14y ago
      Haha! No. Well, yes. But it’s more complicated. Google wants eyeballs, so ignoring a big platform like iOS completely is not really an option. I don’t think you understand the business Google is in.
      • patrickaljord 14y ago
        I don't think you understand where Google business is going. See, even with 60% of market share with Android, Google still makes less money in a whole year with Android ads than Samsung does in a quarter. Mobile ads just don't pay that much. It's clear to Google that even if they get 80% of market share (which is very unlikely), they'll still make less money on mobile ads in a year than Samsung does in a quarter by selling phones, not to mention Apple. I think Google is going to go full on with Motorola and start selling their own phones. If they can manage to grab 10 or 20% of market share, they'll make way more money than with mobile ads now. And with HTC and Samsung eyeing on Windows8, Google may be forced to ship its own phones anyway. That's just my opinion obviously but it's easy to see they're taking Motorola very seriously (and is not just a patent deal) given that they put one of their best guy in charge.
        • arrrg 14y ago
          No, they clearly won’t. They know what they can and cannot do.
          • patrickaljord 14y ago
            And how do you know that? We'll see how it turns out but at this point you can't predict they won't.
• taligent 14y ago
  Why do you think Google even has Maps ? Advertising. iOS users greatly outnumber Android in mobile internet use hence it would be stupid of Google to leave money on the table and not build an app.
  • bornhuetter 14y ago
    > iOS users greatly outnumber Android in mobile internet Source? I hate to be the one to ask for sources, but this sounds completely wrong.
    • lookingsideways 14y ago
      http://www.netmarketshare.com http://www.netmarketshare.com Mobile browser share Safari: 66.2% Android: 19.4% Mobile OS Share: iOS: 65.7% Android: 20.2%
      • patrickaljord 14y ago
        http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-ww-monthly-201108-201208 http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-ww-monthly-201108-20120... Android: 28% iOS: 24% It's easy to find web brpwser stats that validate your opinion.
  • epo 14y ago
    I'd guess embarrassing Apple counts for more than advertising revenue at the moment. Also a Google maps app with adverts is going to make the (inevitable) improved ad-free Apple maps app look better and better.
  • __alexs 14y ago
    In some locales, sure, but not in general. Worldwide: Android beats iOS slightly. http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-ww-monthly-201108-201208 http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-ww-monthly-201108-20120... Europe: iOS beats Android slightly. http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-eu-monthly-201108-201208 http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-eu-monthly-201108-20120... North America: iOS beats Android by 10% http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-na-monthly-201108-201208 http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-na-monthly-201108-20120... South America: Android beats iOS by 28% http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-sa-monthly-201108-201208 http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-sa-monthly-201108-20120... Asia: Android beats iOS by 10% http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-as-monthly-201108-201208 http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_os-as-monthly-201108-20120...