TechCrunch is reporting that Apple began using their own location databases beginning with iOS 3.2 and the iPad in April. Of course before then, Apple used Google and Skyhook Wireless location-based services. All of this information comes from Apple’s response to U.S. Lawmakers earlier this month concerning user privacy. For devices running iPhone OS versions […]
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Apple Now Using Their Own Proprietary Location Services in iOS 4 Devices

Aug 2nd 2010 by

TechCrunch is reporting that Apple began using their own location databases beginning with iOS 3.2 and the iPad in April. Of course before then, Apple used Google and Skyhook Wireless location-based services. All of this information comes from Apple’s response to U.S. Lawmakers earlier this month concerning user privacy.

For devices running iPhone OS versions 1.1.3 to 3.1, Apple relied on (and still relies on) databases maintained by Google and Skyhook Wireless (“Skyhook”) to provide location-based services. Beginning with the iPhone OS version 3.2 released in April 2010, Apple relies on its own databases to provide location-based services and for diagnostic purposes.

The average user does not care or know about this change, and to be perfectly honest they don’t need to. However, this does show the lengths Apple will go to control the entire product from the top down. Of course, this does lessen Apple’s dependence on Google services.

Lastly, this isn’t surprising news. Apple acquired Placebase (a mapping company) in July of ’09, and Poly9 (another mapping company) earlier this year. A job posting on Apple’s website also hinted that the company was taking “Maps to the next level.”

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