Apple’s proprietary mapping solution is hitherto may not have been the success it had hoped for, but nothing suggests that the focus should be given up.
On the contrary, Apple seems to invest quite heavily in buying up companies developing map-related technologies.
Read also: Develops alternative to GPS.
The latest acquisition is the company Coherent Navigation, which develops advanced GPS technologies.
Their expertise is to combine signals from traditional GPS satellites are called medium high orbits, using signals from the satellites of the Iridium system used for their satellite telephony, which transmits both voice and data. These are in much lower orbits.
Super Precise
This system provides far greater accuracy, precision, better signal integrity and several other benefits. The solution should be able to give an accuracy of centimeter level.
See also: Facebook Tests Nokia Maps.
The employees of Coherent announced that they are now working for Apple, and their website has been removed. Apple itself confirmed the acquisition but will obviously not pinpoint what it means.
Thus, it is not clear what role Coherent technology will get from Apple, but a logical assumption would be that it should strengthen maps for the company.
Apple has acquired several companies developing technologies related to maps and navigation, and it has also speculated that Apple is working on a kind of response to Google’s Street View. It will be interesting to see if any Apple Maps-related news will be presented at WWDC conference next month.
Read more about the mysterious Apple-cars.
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