Apple removes GPS in Egyptian iPhones

Since it was released back in 2007, the iPhone has proved to be a major hit, with Apple selling more than 10 million handsets worldwide in roughly a year and vaulting past RIM in the global smartphone market. One of the most important features that came with the 3G update earlier this year is its global positioning systems (GPS), but at least one country is not benefiting from the addition due to strict government regulations.

Specifically, the Egyptian government believes that GPS functionality could be a military security risk and therefore has forced Apple to eliminate the feature in order to sell their device in the region. Egyptian blogger Ahmed Gabr brought this issue up in an article and talks about how the measure does not make any sense due to the fact that Google Maps “works flawlessly” in Egypt, allowing unregulated access to views of “places you’re not supposed to see.” Not that the Egyptian government is alone in its desire for control, anyway, with China Mobile reportedly negotiating a stripped-down version of iPhone sans Wi-Fi and 3G functionality.