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I doubt it'll cost them anything. Once iOS6 is released the iPhone won't be using GMaps, and I doubt Google will start charging for maps in apps if Apple doesn't.

Good grief does Google need to update their mapping APIs, though.

I think Google maps API on iOS is free to use. Apple foots the bill for usage.

It's not free, it's just effectively free as long as you don't run up against Google Map's daily usage thresholds [1].

[1] http://www.techradar.com/us/news/applications/software/after...

It's just using the iOS maps. On iOS 5 and below, it's Google Maps; on iOS 6, it's Apple Maps.