Apple is rolling out sponsored ads in the Apple Maps app for iPhone and iPad users in the United States and Canada. Multiple outlets report that ads are already appearing for some users and that the rollout expands over the coming days and weeks.
Apple had previously announced in March that ads would be added to Maps as part of a broader business rollout. MacRumors and AppleInsider say Apple’s plan matched a late-summer timeframe, with indications that ads began surfacing during the summer period. 9to5Mac similarly notes that the feature is now live, with further ramp-up expected.
Coverage also focuses on how the ads appear and user controls. Reports say ads show up in Suggested Places and within search results at the top, marked clearly with a blue “Ad” label, and typically only one ad per set of results. MacRumors adds that there is no option to turn off ads in Maps and that Apple states interactions in the Maps app are not tied to an Apple Account or shared with third parties. Apple’s advertising policy restricts certain categories of ads, with eligibility determined case by case.
