How to force MapKit to use Google Mobile Maps (GMM) beyond iOS 5.1

Question

The Map Kit Framework Reference says:

In iOS5.1 and earlier,the Map Kit framework uses the Google Mobile Maps (GMM) service to provide map data.

If I use the MapKit framework for displaying maps, it is using google maps for iOS 5.1 and earlier, for iOS 6 it uses apples new maps. Can I force MapKit to still use goggle mobile maps instead?

Related Links: What's new in iOS6 , Location Awarness Programming Guide

Answer 1

No, not possible.

With iOS 6 and above, you cannot access Google Maps natively. If you wish to use MapKit on iOS 6, you're stuck with Apple Maps. End of. This shouldn't be too much of a problem; MapKit should work seamlessly with either Google Maps on iOS 5 and Apple Maps on iOS 6, and you use the same API and code in either version.

You can still access Google Maps via URL (http://maps.google.com/...), and send the user to it via Safari, or maybe using a UIWebView , but the functionality you have will be fairly restricted (only what's possible to pass in the URL as parameters). You'll have a lot of work cut out for yourself if you want to support Google Maps in iOS 6.