iOS 5 to Continue Using Google Maps Despite 'Rough' Relationship with Mountain View

Former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt has indirectly confirmed that Apple’s forthcoming iOS release will continue to rely on the Mountain View search giant’s mapping services, despite a growing animosity between the two companies.

Fierce rivals on the smartphone front, Apple and Google are clinging onto a deal whose terms say the latter must provide mapping services to iOS customers via a dedicated “Maps” application built right inside the operating system.

Schmidt, speaking at the D9 conference yesterday, confirmed that Google has just renewed its partnership with Apple to actively use their maps and search services.

In other words, these features will remain intact in iOS 5, the forthcoming major version of Apple’s mobile operating system powering iPhones, iPod touch players, and iPad tablet computers.

Reportedly, Schmidt did not hesitate to mention that the renewed partnership comes amid a growing tension between the two companies as Android and iOS try to knock each other off the pole position.

The ex Google CEO specifically noted that the relationship between Apple and Google had gotten “rough” as a result of this.


Yet, the duo are putting their differences aside when it comes to Maps on iOS, as the service is profitable for both parties.

There had been earlier reports saying iOS 5 would not bring an Apple-developed maps service, despite Apple’s rumored efforts to improve the existing iOS Maps application with the know-how of Placebase and Poly9 - two specialized companies acquired by Apple in the past year.

A job on Apple’s website for an iOS Maps Application Developer is still up for grabs. This person would “radically improve” Apple’s location-based services with a required understanding of graphics technology and familiarity with and a passion for location-based technologies.

Also noteworthy, Apple revealed last month that it was actively collecting anonymous location data to build a “crowd-sourced traffic database” for navigation services.