Default Handlers in iOS

I think Apple needs to allow users to be able to select different default applications for protocols in iOS.

For example, I want to be able to specify that every address I tap is opened in Google Maps, not Apple Maps.

Similarly I imagine many users want to use the Google Mail application instead of Apple Mail. Alternatively, being able to specify Google Chrome over Safari.

Apple could do this without destroying the user experience. I can appreciate that if this were simply a free for all iOS would overnight become a mess, but Apple has the huge advantage of already having an approval process — it would not be much more work to state that if you wanted the ability to list your Mail application as a potential default alternative, you must support the following interactions:

• Compose
• Compose and attach images

etc etc.

I wonder if Apple has not done this seemingly obvious feature because as demonstrated in all the primary desirable alternative to stock Apple apps, they’re Google.