It seems like big companies are in the real mode of acquisition. Aren’t
they becoming some kind of shopaholics day by day? The breaking news is that iPhone maker Apple
has acquired yet another mapping company named Embark to enhance its Maps platform by adding several cool features
in it.
Recently while browsing over the web, I found it this news in NDTV Gadgets. It reported that Apple has completed the
acquisition of Embark, which is basically a small Silicon Valley based startup
that designs transit apps with the aim of helping the users navigate the
important public transportation with super ease.
However, the total monetary value of the deal is yet to be disclosed by
both the companies. But, it is easily understandable that soon Apple will
integrate the advanced technology of Embark in its own Maps to make it more
developed and user-friendly.
Earlier we published that Apple has started giving priorities to its
Maps, and they are looking forward to establish it as the best alternative to
the Google Maps. In this process Apple already
acquired ‘Locationary’, which was a fairly popular location-based crowdsourced data startup.
Now it buys out Embark to carry on the momentum I guess.
An Apple spokeswoman confirmed the transaction. She said, "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time,
and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."
Jessica E. Lessin recently published an article on her blog on this deal. In her post she mentioned that
Embark was established in 2011, and since then it has been developing Android
and iOS apps featuring public transit systems
information for the busiest US (United States) cities like New York, San
Francisco, Chicago and a few more. The blog post added that the iOS apps are
still available in the Apple store for download but the Android apps have already been removed from the official
Google Play Store.
Embark was having a large user base of more than half a million in
November 2012, and certainly it would be benefitted by joining Apple, which
earlier decided to move to its own Maps platform rather than recommending its
users to use Google Maps. Prior to the acquisition, Apple Maps did not feature public
transport information and earlier it used to recommend several other top level third-party
apps in its App Store (including Embark).
In last couple of months we have seen Apple trying its level best to
strengthen the features of its own Maps platform by acquiring popular online
mapping services like HopStop, which offers directions to major transit systems
and biking routes.
Apple’s Map was being criticized for number of experts for not having
several key features like transit information, which are the most popular
features on Google's maps.
Wrap Up
Yeah it’s true that Apple is continuously developing its Maps to make
it useful for the users. But it has yet to cover a long route to take on Google
Maps, which is still the no. 1 choice of most of the people while searching
some places on the web.
What are your thoughts on Apple’s Maps platform and this latest
acquisition? Do you think later it will be able to challenge the Google Maps?
Let us know your opinions, as like always they are very much precious to us.
