How to link to native Google Maps iOS app from mobile Safari browser

Question

I read somewhere (I've forgotten where) that it is now possible to link to the native Google Maps iOS app from the mobile Safari browser by using the maps:// protocol and that the app will now allow the importation of a KML file. I have tried several different linking URLs but I can't seem to get any of them to work. Does anyone know the correct format of this URL using the maps:// protocol with a KML file? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

As far as I see there is no such option.

Apple Developer Documentation on Map Links

You can start the Google Maps iOS native app by just redirecting to the Google Maps website:

<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=cupertino">Cupertino</a>

Regarding the KML the native app will not pick it up (from the link above):

The rules for creating a valid map link are as follows: ...

• A parameter cannot be q=* if the value is a URL (so KML is not picked up). ...