Regardless of the poorer quality, iPhone users prefer Apple Maps to Google Maps, because the app is already installed
Apple Balla reports that Google Maps lost in 2012 23 million iPhone users in the US alone, and likely as many in other parts of the world. ComScore shows that in September last year 35 million owners of iPhone used Apple Maps. About 6 million used Google Maps, and quite a number of them simply could not use Apple Maps because their device had an older OS which was incompatible with Apple Maps.
Sadly, the users’ preference for Apple Maps is not the result of the application’s superior quality. On the contrary. Apple Maps had some big problems from the start. But, iPhones come with Apple Maps already installed. Very few users will bother to reinstall Google Maps, unless they are more technically savvy or really need a good map application.
Many people expected that services like Pandora will suffer the same destiny as Google Maps after the launch of iTunes Radio. But, at least in the short run, Pandora is doing really well. The launch campaign did Pandora a great service by mentioning it all the time, so the listeners were well informed about it. But, as iTunes Radio becomes available in more countries, it is to be expected that the iPhone owners will automatically tune to iTunes Radio. Why not, it is already there.
