Apple Maps overtakes Google Maps in mapping traffic on 4G

Within just two years of its launch Apple maps had succeeded in pipping Google Maps in mapping traffic on 4G, according to a new report.

EE, one of the UK's leading mobile network operators on Monday released the latest 4GEE Mobile Living Index detailing how its 4G LTE network was being used. According to the EE 4G usage index, Apple Maps was surging past Google Maps on mobile.

According to the mobile operator in the ''mobile mapping'' section of the announcement, new Apple Maps currently represented 70 per cent of mapping traffic on the 4G network, as against 60 per cent posted in the second half of 2013, taking from Google maps' market share, which was down 7 percentage points (ppts). With regards to mapping traffic on 3G, Apple Maps was up 19ppts while Google Maps was down 15ppts.

According to EE, the increase in Apple map usage could be attributed to iPhone owners, who typically used Apple Maps over all other smartphone owners who used Google Maps or other mapping services.

EE, however, did not disclose as to how many of the 4.2 million people using 4G LTE were iPhone owners, and how many were Android users.

According to the company its recent 4G-related findings were based on its network data as also an independent survey of 1,000 4GEE users by consultancy TNS, part of Kantar.

According to the EE study not only was Apple Maps doing well, it was actually outperforming Google Maps.