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Apple buys indoor-mapping company Wifislam | Apple buys indoor-mapping company Wifislam |
(3 days later) | |
Apple has bought indoor-mapping specialist Wifislam as it looks to expand its maps product to compete with Google. | Apple has bought indoor-mapping specialist Wifislam as it looks to expand its maps product to compete with Google. |
The acquisition, confirmed to the BBC by Apple, could allow the company to offer maps within buildings with an accuracy of 8ft (2.5m). | The acquisition, confirmed to the BBC by Apple, could allow the company to offer maps within buildings with an accuracy of 8ft (2.5m). |
Rival Google has stepped up its efforts to add indoor locations to its already huge Street View product. | Rival Google has stepped up its efforts to add indoor locations to its already huge Street View product. |
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple paid $20m (£13m) for Wifislam. | According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple paid $20m (£13m) for Wifislam. |
In a statement, the iPad-maker batted away speculation about its plans, saying: "Apple invests in smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not comment on our purpose or plans." | In a statement, the iPad-maker batted away speculation about its plans, saying: "Apple invests in smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not comment on our purpose or plans." |
Pinpointing | Pinpointing |
Indoor coverage is seen as the next battleground for mapping technology. | Indoor coverage is seen as the next battleground for mapping technology. |
Google, which leads the pack, has invested time and money in accepting more than 10,000 floor plans from businesses who want to be featured. | Google, which leads the pack, has invested time and money in accepting more than 10,000 floor plans from businesses who want to be featured. |
Its service also draws data from nearby wifi hotspots and signal towers to pinpoint location in a way which is more accurate than satellite positioning. | Its service also draws data from nearby wifi hotspots and signal towers to pinpoint location in a way which is more accurate than satellite positioning. |
According to its website, Wifislam's technology works by using smartphones to "pinpoint its location (and the location of your friends) in real-time to 2.5m accuracy using only ambient wifi signals that are already present in buildings". | |
Elsewhere in the market, Microsoft's Bing maps has acquired up to 3,000 indoor locations, while Nokia's Destination Maps product has more than 4,000 locations in 38 countries. | Elsewhere in the market, Microsoft's Bing maps has acquired up to 3,000 indoor locations, while Nokia's Destination Maps product has more than 4,000 locations in 38 countries. |
Apple's map product was strongly criticised by much of the technology community when it launched last year, forcing chief executive Tim Cook to apologise to users. | Apple's map product was strongly criticised by much of the technology community when it launched last year, forcing chief executive Tim Cook to apologise to users. |
Complaints centred on missing or moved locations as well as confusing, irrelevant search results. | Complaints centred on missing or moved locations as well as confusing, irrelevant search results. |
In his apology, Mr Cook said: "With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. | In his apology, Mr Cook said: "With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. |
"We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better." | "We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better." |
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