Apple to drop YouTube app from upcoming iOS 6

7 Aug 2012

The YouTube app that has featured on iOS since the first 2007 version will not be featuring in iOS 6, as Apple appears to be distancing itself even further from its dependence on Google.

Just this past June at its annual developers’ conference WWDC in San Francisco, California, Apple revealed that its next version of its mobile operating system, iOS 6, which it is set to unleash in the autumn for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, would feature its own Maps service created in-house, in a move to displace Google Maps for Apple device users.

Yesterday, 9to5mac.com noticed Apple had removed the YouTube application in its fourth beta version of iOS 6.

Apple has since indicated that the licence to include the YouTube app in iO6 has expired, with Google apparently bevelling away on a new YouTube app that will be included in the App Store.

Apple issued this statement, as reported by The Verge: “Our licence to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended. Customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store.”

iOS 6 will carry 200 new features, with Apple claiming it will be world’s most advanced mobile operating system.

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com