“Let’s assume the timeframes being reported about Apple and Google’s maps license are accurate. The various reports coming out yesterday and today are in general agreement in this regard, and my own sources (who in this case are, as they say, directly familiar with the matter) back this up,” John Gruber writes for Daring Fireball.
Apple switched from Google Maps to a homegrown solution and Google was advised of the change earlier this year. There was still a year was left on the current deal when Apple released their own Maps app in iOS 6.
“WWDC took place in June this year (as usual). That suggests the old deal ran through, at the latest, somewhere around June or July 2013,” Gruber writes. “Timeline-wise, and regarding Google’s purported surprise that Apple made this switch, it’s worth pointing out that Apple began making mapping-based acquisitions in July 2009, when they acquired Placebase. Apple then acquired Poly9 a year later, and then, a year ago, acquired C3 Technologies for $267 million. What exactly did Google think Apple was acquiring these companies for if not to replace Google Maps with their own offering?”
Much more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Apple on Maps app inaccuracies: ‘This is no one’s issue but ours’ – September 26, 2012
Apple-Google Maps talks ended over turn-by-turn navigation – September 26, 2012
Apple had more than a year left on Google Maps contract, sent Google scrambling to build iOS app – September 26, 2012
