MobileCrunch has penned a piece on “10 Things That Simply Need To Be In iOS 5” ahead of Apple’s presumed Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) June iOS 5 reveal. While we’ll never see enhanced, integrated Gmail support (#4) or the ability to sideload third party apps (#5) under Steve Jobs, I have wondered if free turn-by-turn navigation (#2) might eventually come to the iPhone.
On one hand, we’ve seen job openings that seem to suggest a revised non-Google Maps app. And integrating turn-by-turn voice nav would allow Apple to check a box currently covered by the competing Android platform. On the other, building an app like this requires a decent sized team whereas Apple takes a 30% cut of all App Store sales. Given the current crop of premium GPS apps, like the TomTom and Navigon software I own, I suspect the status quo has been fairly lucrative for Apple.