The Original iPhone Relied on Built-In Google Maps and YouTube Apps
Ben Gilbert · Google Part II: Alphabet (Audio) · Acquired · Aug 26, 2025 · at 2:41:37
Acquired co-host Ben Gilbert discusses the early collaboration between Apple and Google at the 2007 iPhone launch before Android became a direct competitor.
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“There are two apps that launch in the very first version of the iPhone. Remember, it didn't have an app store. It was not open to third-party developers. There is a YouTube app and a Maps app, both of which are Google services. Now, the apps are written by Apple. The icons are designed by Apple. They're basically just consuming Google's data as APIs.”
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