[Tyrannosaurs]

Why do you think they're paying them anything given how the transition from one mapping application to the other has gone?

Apple clearly wanted Google maps to be relegated to an also ran.

This works for both of them - the complaints about Apple maps are undermined by the existence of Google maps for iOS, Google get to retain their position as the best maps on any platform.

I see no evidence for an exchange of money in any direction.

[piyush_soni]

But I still don't see what motivation Google had for releasing an iOS 6 app. I mean they are already the undisputed kings in maps - and had they not released an iOS6 maps app, wouldn't have more users converted to Android phones? Just trying to understand all this, I'm not a business expert. Though I agree there wouldn't be any money exchange for this between the two.