Who loses more with Apple's move away from Google Maps?

It's been well published that Apple has decided to move away from Google Maps. Most of the press has focused on how big of a lose this is for Google. I'd assume Google would enjoy being the primary mapping and navigation service on iOS. But, for the time being, the Googleplex isn't the only loser. iOS users lose too.

Google Maps on iOS has long been a shadow of its true self. Apple, in Apple fashion, controlled the UI and most Google Maps functionality and updates were never implemented. Android users are typically pretty surprised to learn that iPhone users didn't have turn-by-turn navigation until yesterday (or until the iOS 6 update announcements made yesterday are implemented later this year). iOS users had to purchase an app. Garmin's Nav App is $50 for example ... and I think you might even have to purchase the maps themselves.

Yesterday afternoon I saw a Google Street View car zooming around Kansas City. And last night I came across this funny story about Apple trying to kill iOS users. Both reminded me of a fact. Google has the world's best consumer map and navigation apps. Google has also been incorporating more and more of Google Earth into Google Maps.

Google's Street View program launched in 2007 and Android has had turn-by-turn since 2009. Google's been acquiring traffic and mapping firms since 2004. Google's mission statement is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. In short, Google Maps is a service driven from the very heart of the company. Google Maps is one of the most accessible and useful applications in the history of human civilization.

Apple's new mapping service is pretty? Yes, it is. Does it work well. I'd assume it's decent, especially in major urbar ares and it will improve quickly. But Google's mapping service will ALWAYS be better. Google has a massive head start, the service is at the heart of their identity as a company and Google employees seem to genuinely enjoy working on the incredible challenges and scale intrinsic with organizing and making accessible planet earth and human civilization.

Here's a picture of a map from 1534, from the Swiss National Museum in Zurich. Amazing effort considering the resources available. 

We literally can't comprehend how far we've come and how quickly we're improving. Google Maps even has Kansas City's Swope Park Mountain Bike Trail System.

The biggest loser in Apple's move away from Google Maps is the iOS user. Most don't even know how much Google Maps functionality Apple has been keeping from them - although ignorance is bliss. Apple is the world's most valuable company but nobody's perfect. Personally I think Apple is making a long-term decision based on short-term grudges. No question they're taking mapping seriously, viewing the capabilities as a core feature of a mobile device, but is mapping going to be a core competency of Apple? 

I assume there are many iOS users who know Google Maps is the best service available. I also expect Google will get Google Maps back onto iOS with a native app. But would their resources be better spent on improving services available via Android? 

Apple's move definitely got Google's attention. I think the increased competition will compel Google to push Maps forward more aggressively. There are dozens of reasons I personally use Android over iOS and I expect Maps and Navigation will continue to be on that list.


Update 6.14: Gizmodo has an awesome comparison overview of the two services. 
Update 6.18: Wired has an outstanding overview of the situation.
Update 9.26: MG Siegler has a great write up here. I think he's right on ... ultimately it's about control of very valuable data. I've also read Apple is aggressively hiring mapping experts. Apple has more cash than any company in the history of the world. Being the world's second best mapping service isn't too shabby. Eventually iOS and Google users will both benefit from the increased competition. Apple is the only company that can (or eventually will) compete with Google Maps.