The next time you walk down the main street in your town or city, notice all those people walking around looking into their smartphones instead of where they are going. Do you know what they are doing? Well yes some are texting or checking emails, but 50%+ are looking for a place to eat or directions to a local business.
Starting today, their experience is going to change dramatically.
That’s because Apple just released iOS 6 – the latest version of their mobile operating system that runs the iPhone, iTouch and iPad. In this release they are ending their relationship with Google Maps and providing their own mapping solution.
This is a significant change since tens of millions of iPhone users depend on their device to find local goods and services while they are out and about. In the past, when people searched for these things from the Maps app on their iPhone, they were able to take advantage of the millions of Google+ Local (formerly Google Places) business listings that have been claimed by business owners.
New Business Listings Data Providers for iPhone
Now Apple will not have access to that data. In fact, many sources who have tried the iOS 6 betas said they had trouble finding businesses because you can only search by business name, address or category. This means you can’t just type in “pizza” and get your local pizza place, you have to search by the business name, address or category to find it!
Apple will, however, get business listing data through providers like Yelp, Localeze, Waze, Getchee, Urban Mapping, DMTI, MapData Sciences and TomTom (who is providing the new turn-by-turn navigation capability).
New Maps Features for iPhone 5 and iOS 6
The new iOS does come with some cool new features, however. Turn-by-turn navigation will be a nice addition, and one that I am looking forward to.
The Flyover view looks pretty slick too, although it remains to be seen if it will be as useful as Google Street View.
And the new iPhone will use Yelp more heavily too. Siri already uses Yelp as one of her primary data sources, and now the maps will be using it more too.
How To Make Sure Your Business Shows Up in the New Apple Maps
As a local business owner one of the first things you should do is check to see if your business shows up on iPhones running iOS 6. The new iPhone 5 (CNet has a very complete review here) will run it, and starting today iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S users can upgrade to it too).
If your business does not show up, take David Mihm’s advice about ranking for Siri – make sure you claim your business’ Yelp listing, and list it in Localeze too. You should also review the Yelp categories your business is listed in, since more people will be relying on them to find your business now.
I’ll be installing iOS 6 on my iPhone 4S to take it for a spin. Stay tuned – I’ll report back once I’ve had a chance to try it out. I’d love to hear about your experiences with it too.
=== Update After Day One ===
Ok the reviews are in and people are not happy with the new Apple Maps. John Gruber, normally very pro-Apple, says:
“Seems pretty clear the new Maps is going to be the biggest problem with iOS 6.”
Anil Dash says:
“they’ve used their platform dominance to privilege their own app over a competitor’s offering, even though it’s a worse experience for users. This is the new Maps in iOS 6.”
Greg Sterling has a nice rundown of impressions from many of the major news sources in his Search Engine Land article here.
My own experience over the past few hours shows that I can’t find many businesses that used to be easy to find, especially non-chain one-of-a-kind businesses. I really miss the Google Maps data badly, and think this will put the iPhone at a disadvantage to Android devices.
It remains to be seen whether Google will offer a Maps App for iPhone like it did for their YouTube App.
Have you had a chance to try it – what do you think?
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Article by » Don Campbell
Don is an entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley. He founded Expand2Web and is the publisher of the Expand2Web Blog and the SmallBiz WordPress Theme.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for writing this Don! It is critically important that local businesses get found on phones and is something they should not ignore. And neither should local SEO consultants! I’m upgrading my phone today so that can check to see if my clients are found.
That’s a great point that I left out of the original post Kathy – many readers here are web consultants who help small business owners. And they should absolutely download iOS 6 (if they have an iPhone) and see if their customers appear in the search results.
Thanks for the post, Don! At the time of this post, is there a way for iPhone users who upgrade to iOS 6 to still have the option of choosing Google Maps over the Apple maps?
Unfortunately not. When you upgrade to iOS 6 Google Maps goes away. Unless Google releases a Maps App for the iPhone.
Sounds like an opportunity for you and Thomas to develop an app! lol
Julie,
You can still access Google Maps through the Safari browser and then add it to your home screen. Not a perfect solution but it’s workable.
It’s unfortunate that Apple’s iOS upgrade seems to actually be a downgrade for many in this respect. For those sitting on the edge between Apple and Android offerings, this may be a major reason to wait or put off the decision until the problem has been addressed. Thanks for the heads up on this Don. I’ll be in touch with my clients who are already on the Apple platform.
Thank you for the update, Don! Please clarify this point for me: If a local business gets their business listed in both Yelp and Localeze .. does that ensure they will be findable iOS6, … or not?
It does not ensure they will be in the top results, but we know that Apple is getting business data from these services so it is a requirement for ranking in the maps search results.
Let me make sure I understand what your saying. If I go to Safari, and google “pizza”…it no longer pulls google data (if I have ios6)? and Siri def doesn’t.
Google and Apple are gonna have to start playing along…or we need Jailbreak peddlers outside every cell phone store.
Very good question Art.
No, searchers using Safari will still get Google results. But many people search in the Maps App on the iPhone, and until now that default Maps App has been powered by Google. Going forward it will be Apple’s own Maps App.
This is a good distinction to make – thanks for bringing it up.
Except when it goes to the default browser…I always use chrome on my ipad and iphone. That is another lousy feature of Apple.
But yes, this could be a very good, FREE foot in the door method to talk to offline businesses.
Matter of fact…
Thanks Don… Actionable advice there… I can keep my clients in the loop!
Don:
I’m really torn on the iPhone 5. I’ve been an Android user since day one but the apps available for Android is miniscule compared to Apple so I’m contemplating making the switch. However, this mapping issue bothers me among a few other issues. Clearly Apple has a long way to go to catch up to Google on the mapping front (if they ever will).
I imagine Google will roll out a mapping app soon. They have too much invested in Local not to have one.
Travis Van Slooten
Yes I’m hoping that:
A) Google will release a maps app for the iPhone, and
B) Apple will improve their Maps app over time, and maybe even do a deal with Google to have access to the Google+ Local businesses.
Good summary here Don – thanks. Let’s hope an App is made available sooner rather than later. Looks like they’re really trying to force the loyalty between iphone and android – shame it’s at the expense of user experience (not that Apple usually worries about that!)
So if we make sure our local clients have complete Yelp listings will that help them be found on the iphone do you know??
Tanya
Tanya – local clients should claim and completely fill out their Yelp listing, and respond to reviews, etc. Also they should be listed in Localeze, and other local directories.
Here is a great writeup on Local Search Data Providers.
We love working with local businesses. Great information here Don. Our clients will be happy to here about this!
I wonder how long it takes to get businesses listed in yelp and how long for them to show up on maps.
Looking today many businesses in my local area are not listed and many are misplaced on wrong streets and even wrong towns.
I have been more and more disappointed with Google this past year and so I think this is good that Apple has dropped their maps from iPhone (I’m actually an Android user myself but that could change). Google has gotten too big for their britches and has not stayed true to their original mission statement which had something to do with “first do no harm”.
And remember too, that you don’t have to use google for search. Bing is getting to be like Google used to be.
I’m apple fan, Lets hope for the best.
Thanks for this Topic Don, I think you are right Apple are improving their map application to compete in the market. In fact it is interesting to have different providers in the market.
As a UK 4s user I just upgraded to iOS 6 and overall I think its great. Never used Google maps to find businesses – Vicinity app does that perfectly well for me listing by trade/amenity type, or even just “pizza” and you can still get a Google map view if you prefer.
I think Siri and mobile is really gaining traction. I think as Internet Marketing companies see this, just tell your clients to spend more on mobile advertising.
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