As Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) launches its new iPhone 5 without its traditional partnership with Google Maps, the future of the search engine’s software has dimmed. Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) has never quite explained why its Maps operation is a good business, at least from a sales and profits standpoint. In that way, Maps joins Android and all of Google’s other nonsearch products.
It has been several weeks since it became clear that Apple had its own map product. However, Apple’s move could backfire. Early evaluations of its map technology have been almost universally poor. The New York Times writes:
On Wednesday, Apple released a software update for the iPhone that, among other changes, replaces the Google maps that have been on the phone since 2007 with Apple’s own maps. So far the feedback from reviewers and early adopters of the new software is that it is attractive but suffers from holes and glitches.
For example, some have found that searches for an in-town destination can pull up an entirely different city, and there is no built-in information about public transportation.
Douglas A. McIntyre
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