Apple defines gravitas, owns location data on iOS (so long Google) | 9 to 5 Mac:
“To provide the high quality products and services that its customers demand, Apple must have access to comprehensive location-based information. 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. These databases must be updated continuously to account for, among other things, the ever-changing physical landscape, more innovative uses of mobile technology, and the increasing number of Apple’s customers. Apple has always taken great care to protect the privacy of its customers.”
To me this just made complete sense . With location data concern being so high on the radar these days, trusting one of your biggest competitors to safeguard your user’s data doesn’t seem like a goo idea anymore. I’m not saying that Google just became Evil, that is still Microsoft and Ballmer’s job. But it does raise some ethical questions about Google handling all of the location data for the iDevices.