Google Maps may be a big hit among Apple users with their newly released iOS app, but according to the latest data from analytics firm comScore, Google Maps no longer claims te title of must used mobile app in America. According to the latest numbers, Facebook’s mobile application has now leapt past Google Maps to become the most-used mobile app on both iOS and Android through 2012.
The latest comScore Mobile Metrix ranking of the top mobile apps by audience shows that Facebook finished the year strong to capture the #1 position from Google Maps. Of course Apple’s decision to replace Google Maps with Apple Maps on iOS 6 also caused a decline in Google Maps usage in October, which is largely responsible for the position swap. Meanwhile, Google Maps has been clawing its way back the past few months after getting reinstated on iOS 6, so look for the competition for the #1 spot to heat up as we head into 2013.
Google Maps’ decrease in usage is partly due to its removal from iOS devices when Apple released iOS 6, and has begun picking up momentum ever since the new Google Maps iOS app was released – but for 2012, enough damage had already been done to put the app firmly in second place.
Despite the fact that Google Maps slid down the ranks, Google still holds five of the six top spots for mobile app usage, with Google Play, Google Search, Gmail, and YouTube all taking prime spots in the rankings.
