[silversnitch]

Google maps moat isn’t evaporating. Most of the alternative mentioned here work only either in certain cities in US (like Apple Maps) or in specific countries.

I’m a user in India and nothing, absolutely nothing comes close to Google maps in both urban and rural areas.

[bhupy]

Your statement does not contradict the general idea that its moat is evaporating.

10 years ago, most of the alternatives mentioned didn't even work in certain US cities or specific countries, and that's changed. It's only a matter of time before that holds true in India, and beyond. What that slow and steady march towards parity does to a moat can certainly be described as "evaporation".

[filleduchaos]

> Your statement does not contradict the general idea that its moat is evaporating

Personally I think it does because frankly speaking this sort of change tends to happen in the US/Canada and maybe a handful of other western countries at best and nowhere else, for reasons far greater than tech enthusiasts' belly-aching.

Take Apple Maps as an alternative, for example, which is pretty much only available on Apple devices and can thus not march towards parity amongst populations that simply cannot afford Apple devices (which is the majority of people on Earth). It's not just "a matter of time" before Apple Maps is a real challenger in India, because iPhones have a low-single-digit market share there. It would take actual significant action such as Apple releasing Apple Maps for Android for it to even be in the running, and even if that happens then it would still need to contend with Google Maps' existing foothold.

[skinnymuch]

Right and before the alternatives didn’t even work in those specific places. Ergo there’s no reason to think there won’t be changes to competitors in 5 years in India.