It was previously believed by some that Apple’s (AAPL) decision to replace Google’s (GOOG) detailed Maps app with its own inferior mapping solution was because of an expired contract. But according to The Verge, the search giant still had an entire year left to provide Apple’s iOS devices with Google Maps. Apple simply decided to pull the plug early because it felt Google Maps on iOS was not on par with Google Maps on Android according to the report, which has features such as turn-by-turn navigation. Contrary to Google chairman Eric Schmidt’s insistence that the company doesn’t have any Google Maps app in its wings, The New York Times reports that Google is scrambling to release a standalone Google Maps app for iPhone and iPad by the end of the year. Apple is also reportedly hiring ex-Google Maps employees to beef up its own iOS 6 Maps app.
