Update: Apple appears to be testing or slowly rolling out the feature as some users report still seeing Google Maps. Apple Maps are live on the iCloud.com beta site and available for some users on the main iCloud.com site as well.
Almost two years after replacing Google Maps with its own Maps app in iOS 6, Apple has now brought its Maps solution to the web and made the switch for its Find My iPhone web app.
In addition to the iOS Maps app since iOS 6, Apple was already using its own Maps powered by data from a number of partners in its Find My iPhone app for iOS devices and elsewhere on its mobile devices. Today’s change removes Google Maps from one of the last products that was still using it, the Find My iPhone web app available at iCloud.com.
As pictured above, Apple now lists “Data from TomTom, others” and links to a longer, full list of data partners. The change also introduces a few UI tweaks that you can see in the comparison below:
Back in September of last year Apple’s Maps team posted a job listing looking for developers to “design, develop, and maintain complex front-end code for a new secret project” that would include “an advanced web platform.” That led to speculation Apple could be working on bringing its Maps to the web, but it’s still unclear if that will be simply to replace Google in apps like Find My iPhone or to bring a full-blown Maps solution to the web.
Apple continues to use Google Maps on its website for retail store listings, but with today’s change it’s easy to see how that could soon be replaced with Apple Maps too.
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
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