macnn/electronista
06/11/2008, 9:55am, EDT
Wednesday, June 11thApple cutting rivals out of iPhone navigation?
Apple may be attempting to block competition when it comes to GPS navigation on the iPhone, developers have observed. In the most recent version of the iPhone SDK, Section 3.3.7 of the license agreement tells users that "applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes."
The language effectively bans much of the third-party software that might exploit the iPhone 3G's new GPS module, which could in theory be used to provide in-car or on-foot guidance beyond the static options present in Google Maps. The rules may prove especially frustrating for nav-unit maker TomTom, which yesterday told Reuters that it has already developed navigation software for the iPhone and plans to sell it commercially.
It is speculated that Apple may have the intention of developing its own real-time navigation software, but it has not announced any such plans to date.
Filed under: iPhone, industry, software, developer, Apple
Other story tags: iPhone 3G, GPS, SDK, TomTom
, 
, 30
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Top
subscribe to comments
for this article
bah
"real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes"
No thats not locking out companies thats called protecting Apples butt from lawsuits. If the Program or iPhone failed in any one of those situations, that could leed to a nasty lawsuit.
Athens,
Exactly what I was thinking.
yep....
...sounds to me more like the usual legal language to make sure the company is absolved of any liability...
"applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes."
so does this mean?
that Apple will reject any company's product from their "cattle-shoot" distribution system if they add in the ability to do any of those things?
.
I'm waiting/hoping for some good geocaching software.
.
I'm waiting/hoping for some good geocaching software.
Huh?
WTF is a "cattle-shoot" distribution system?
I agree with the above posters - this sounds more like something that came down from the legal department than locking competition out. I can't really envision a situation where real-time navigation is so strategically important to Apple that they would lock everyone else out. What it may mean, however, is that the GPS unit in the iPhone either sucks or is not ready for prime time.
Bad Mix
Lawyers and Media.... not a good combination for the truth.
Don't care who does it...
But someone better have Navigation software on the iPhone. I'd leave it up to Tom Tom. Hopefully this IS just boilerplate.
Apple liability?
It sees more like a liability issue with the software manufacturer, although I suppose Apple could get dragged into it... but it also seems like shutting off a reliable revenue stream.
A few days ago we were reading that the dedicated GPS manufacturers were scared to death of a GPS-enabled iPhone... so there's a real opportunity here. The GPS manufacturers assume the same liability risks that everyone is saying Apple wants to avoid here, and which - I expect - could be deflected with some disclaimers in a software license agreement with end users.
I expect that it's a case of Apple wanting this market to themselves. But either way, I think it's a shame.