Apple has tapped into solutions offered by Yandex, Russia’s Internet search giant, for the latest update of its iOS 6 mobile platform, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing an unidentified source with knowledge of the matter.
“Apple’s Russian map coverage is far from ideal, and therefore the company is drawing on Yandex technology,” the source said to explain why the US firm is using Yandex’s geo-search capabilities and Yandex.Maps service tips.
The decision to resort to the Yandex solutions stems from Apple’s earlier resolve to give up on the Google Maps feature in advance of the launch of its new iOS 6 for iPhones and iPads, and replace it with its own mapping features. Yandex geo-search is now an integral part of the Apple maps, and when looking for addresses, cafés, restaurants and other places across Russia, users of the iOS 6-powered smartphones and tablets will be guided by the leading Russian search engine.
According to the unidentified source, Yandex will also provide brief data on any site or entity that the user “pins” within Apple maps. To know more of the place and its exact location, the user may click on the ‘More on Yandex’ button that appears to see the available info and go to the Yandex.Maps mobile app. To enjoy the service, however, one has to have the latest version of Yandex.Maps installed; those with outdated versions will be referred to the App Store to download the software, the source emphasized.
An official spokesperson for Yandex has declined to comment on the leaked information.
