In practical terms, this will mean that developers will need to develop China-specific location-based services, which routinely access map services sanctioned by the Chinese government.

FORBES: More China Challenges For Google

But the "obsolete-map" story is not credible to Chinese scholars, says Yang Dazhou, a retired senior fellow at the Academy of Social Sciences and China's top Balkans expert.

CNN: DELICATE MISSION TO CHINA

Partly because many Chinese are just getting their first cars there has been little demand for map apps, but that is likely to change with the same blinding speed so much else in China has experienced .

FORBES: Apple Maps, China -- and the Art of War

Earlier this week, Sina, a leading Chinese online media company, announced a strategic partnership with AutoNavi Holdings Limited, a provider of digital map content and navigation and location-based solutions in China, in an effort to enhance the social, location and mobile offerings of both the companies.

FORBES: Sina Enhances Its Mobile Portfolio By Partnering With AutoNavi