If you upgraded to iOS 6 on your iPhone, iPod Touch and/or iPad, you may have noticed that the Google Maps app is missing. Well, it was replaced by Apple's own home grown mapping app.
There are a few threads in the Google Maps Help forums asking Google where it is. Truth is, it is not Google would removed it - it was Apple. Apple made their own map app and there are pros and cons.
It is similar to Apple removing Google's YouTube app and then Google publishing their own YouTube app in the App Store. I suspect but am not 100% certain that Google will release their own iOS map app for inclusion in the App Store. But why is it not there now, since iOS 6 is out already? Who knows? Maybe Google submitted it and Apple didn't approve it yet. Maybe Google didn't submit it yet? I am not sure.
What do you do if you want Google Maps and not Apple Maps?
(1) Don't upgrade to iOS 6.
(2) Wait for Google to release an app for the App Store.
(3) Use the HTML5 version in the Safari browser. Just open the browser and go to maps.google.com.
I've been using Apple Maps for a while now, under the developer release. It is pretty slick, has a neat GPS and some awesome Yelp integration. But one thing it lacks is quality traffic, at least at this point. I hope that improves as Apple crowdsources iPhone users and the data gets better.
For now, I've been using Google Maps on Safari.
Forum discussion at Google Maps Help.
