- Apple is considering adding ads to Apple Maps that are similar to those already present on Google Maps.
- Businesses could pay to be featured more prominently in search results and on the map.
- The move could boost Apple’s revenue, drive feature development, and hopefully intensify competition.
Apple Maps was widely criticized when it launched in 2012, as it felt many generations behind its closest competitor, Google Maps. But these days, Apple Maps and Google Maps are surprisingly neck-and-neck, and one can arguably also say that Apple Maps has pulled ahead with a cleaner interface. Many people still swear by Google Maps despite the vast proliferation of ads on the platform, which most people don’t even notice. The strategy seems to be working, though, as now a report has emerged that even Apple is looking to explore ads in its Maps app.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is considering monetizing Apple Maps to boost its service revenue. Apple employees seem to have explored integrating ads into the Maps app some years ago, and Apple appears to be revisiting this thought.