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We've done work with one of the largest media companies in the world who wanted to use Google maps in a traffic app. They could not get a deal done because Goo

We've done work with one of the largest media companies in the world who wanted to use Google maps in a traffic app. They could not get a deal done because Google would not commit to not placing ads on the maps. They were more then happy to pay for the map data but having 3rd party location ads were a non-starter. So yes Google will say no to cash for the rights to their map data (though maybe not a "truck load") if they don't think the deal supports their business. Google's not in the maps business - they're in the ads business. I can very much see Google sticking their heels in the ground on a few "minor" points until Apple walked away.

bad_user 14y ago
The large media company you worked for is not in the same position as Apple. Apple has right now one of the most popular platforms ever created and the default search engine on their browser is Google Search, an engine that does serve ads and that I'm sure it brings a lot of revenue to Google. And it's not like there aren't alternatives to Google available. They could go with Bing, at least for devices activated in the US (Bing is pretty shitty internationally). I'm sure Google doesn't want that. You cannot compare the leverage that Apple has over Google with any other company (although this works both ways, because Google's services are the best in their domain and any switch is likely to piss people off). And really, I'm not blaming Apple for trying to set themselves free from third-party dependencies. I wouldn't blame them if they created their own search engine either - however considering their leverage and their resources, they should have waited until their Maps app was good enough. GMaps on iOS was already far behind the Android version and they released a replacement that's worse than GMaps on iOS. At least if it offered something worthwhile over GMaps, like being capable of working offline. But alas, it is worse in every possible way, with some exceptions like some places in China where Google had difficulty acquiring data. And I'm sure it will improve and be better in some ways than GMaps. But this version deployed right now is worse and they could have delayed it. It's not a strategy that can be said to be in the user's interests, which is a pity because that's one thing I always loved about Apple - the ability to say no to crap because user experience is more important than other gains they might have.

bad_user 14y ago

The large media company you worked for is not in the same position as Apple. Apple has right now one of the most popular platforms ever created and the default search engine on their browser is Google Search, an engine that does serve ads and that I'm sure it brings a lot of revenue to Google. And it's not like there aren't alternatives to Google available. They could go with Bing, at least for devices activated in the US (Bing is pretty shitty internationally). I'm sure Google doesn't want that. You cannot compare the leverage that Apple has over Google with any other company (although this works both ways, because Google's services are the best in their domain and any switch is likely to piss people off). And really, I'm not blaming Apple for trying to set themselves free from third-party dependencies. I wouldn't blame them if they created their own search engine either - however considering their leverage and their resources, they should have waited until their Maps app was good enough. GMaps on iOS was already far behind the Android version and they released a replacement that's worse than GMaps on iOS. At least if it offered something worthwhile over GMaps, like being capable of working offline. But alas, it is worse in every possible way, with some exceptions like some places in China where Google had difficulty acquiring data. And I'm sure it will improve and be better in some ways than GMaps. But this version deployed right now is worse and they could have delayed it. It's not a strategy that can be said to be in the user's interests, which is a pity because that's one thing I always loved about Apple - the ability to say no to crap because user experience is more important than other gains they might have.