NEWS ANALYSIS: Everyone knows that Apple can’t stand Google. But how did it get to the point of kicking Google out of iOS 6?
Apple and Google have long since become bitter rivals in the
mobile market. In fact, Apple announced on Aug. 6 that it would not offer a
native YouTube app in iOS 6. Users hoping to access YouTube videos will be
forced to watch them from within the browser. Google will also likely launch a
YouTube app in the App Store.
Apples decision to keep YouTube out of iOS 6 comes just a few months after it announced that the native Google Maps app would also
be stricken from iOS 6 and be replaced by its own Maps application. Its not
immediately clear if Apple will come up with something to replace YouTube.
Still,
its
clear that Apple wants nothing to do with Google in iOS 6. And every last
remnant of the search giants apps must be gone before Apple will feel entirely
ready to release the latest edition of the mobile operating system.
Here are the reasons why.
1. Theyre competitors, arent they?
It shouldnt come as much of a surprise that Apple doesnt
want Google infiltrating iOS 6. After all, the companies are intense competitors
in the mobile space. Google offers Android; Apple delivers iOS. Apple has the
iPhone, and now, thanks to its Motorola buy, Google is in the hardware
business. It never makes business sense to let a rival prosper in your territory.
2. Maps mean big business
When
Apple
announced that it was ditching Google Maps for its own alternative, the
idea seemed to make some sense. Mapping is big business that drives people to a
respective companys products. By allowing iOS users to run Google Maps, Apple
was giving the search company an opening to promote its brand, the Android
mobile operating system. It also allowed Google to earn advertising dollars
from Maps and Search. Now that its own Maps application will be the new
standard, Apple doesnt need to worry about that anymore.
3. Dont forget about Lala
Years ago, Apple acquired Lala, a music-streaming site, and
promptly closed it. Since then, speculation has continued to crop up over why
it did so. Is it possible that Apple acquired the team to work on a streaming
video service? If so, that service wouldnt be a YouTube competitor, per se,
but it could allow users to stream iTunes programming to devices. In the off
chance that happens either this year or in the future, it would only make sense
for Apple to want to get rid of YouTube now.
4. Apples Motorola troubles
Apple is by no means happy with Motorola, even if it wasnt
owned by Google. The company has, in fact, sued Motorola for patent
infringement in its mobile devices. Its entirely possible that
Apple
doesnt want to partner with Google now simply because it owns Motorola.
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