Apple reportedly bought digital mapmaker Placebase in July in a bid to rival Google Maps, which currently features on the iPhone. Placebase CEO Jaron Waldman is now a member of the Apple Geo Team, according to his LinkedIn profile, implying that rumours of the Apple takeover are true. Apple is yet to confirm the reports.
Placebase has previously produced a maps API called Pushpin and also offers a mapping service similar to Google Maps. Commentators suggest the acquisition explains why Apple objected to Google's Latitude iPhone app. Apple may be planning to integrate future iPhones with Placebase rather than Google Maps, which it now regards as a competitor.
StrategyEye's related categories: Online Mapping
StrategyEye's related companies: Google, Apple Inc.
