No they don't. Maps links open in Apple Maps by default, hence the requirement for a jailbreak solution like this:

http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/12/14/mapsopener/

How is "handle map links" not an OS-level hook?

When did I say I was talking about inside apps only? There's a reason I specified OS-level hooks. The entire point is that Apple does not let you choose the Maps application your OS uses- even at it's worst, IE's "default browser" behaviour could be changed.

That is discussing sending the user to the Google Maps app rather than the Google Maps mobile site. Nothing to do with Apple's OS-level handling in places like Contacts, where it is impossible to use a different Maps application.