In a document published by Apple, the manufacturer indicates that it will soon allow its European users to change their default mapping application in favor of Google Maps.
The DMA continues to have consequences for European users of Apple or Android smartphones. One of the latest announcements made by Apple concerns the default mapping application within iOS.
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Since the launch of Apple Maps in 2012, map links have opened the Apple Maps application by default. However, in a document published this Friday, November 1, Apple announced that it would comply with the new European regulations:
In spring 2025, Apple will add support for the default choice of navigation and translation applications.
Concretely, this means that links linked to addresses or geographic coordinates will no longer necessarily be opened via Apple Maps. Users will be able to choose to open them by default with another mapping application, whether Google Maps, but also Waze, Citymapper or local public transport applications.
A decision that also concerns translation applications
In addition to mapping, Apple’s announcement also targets translation applications. It will thus be possible for a user to select a translation application other than the Apple Translate application by default. Here too, this decision could favor Google with its own Google Translate application.
This decision by Apple aims to comply with the DMA, the European regulation on the digital market. This aims to decorrelate devices from manufacturers’ native applications to encourage competition and the emergence of applications from third-party developers.
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It is also in this context that Apple will, for example, have to allow contactless payment with services other than Apple Pay from an iPhone.
