Google Signs Five Year Map Deal With Tele Atlas
Amsterdam – Belgium-based Tele Atlas, a provider of digital-maps and dynamic content for navigation and location-based solutions, and search engine giant Google Inc. on Monday renewed their agreement for another five years, which allows for the latter to keep receiving the Tele Atlas map data which powers Google Maps, including cell-phones based on its Android operating system.
This most recent wide-ranging deal allows Google access to Tele Atlas maps and dynamic content in more than 200 countries and multiple delivery platforms such as Google Earth and various mobile applications around the world.
The deal, according to Tele Atlas, covers Google’s current and future map-based services and navigation offerings across mobile, online and desktop environments, which include the Google Maps and Google Earth services and mobile applications such as Google Maps for Mobile.
Tele Atlas, which operates out of Ghent, Belgium with its corporate HQ in Netherlands, was established in 1984 and was acquired last year, following a bidding war, by navigation system maker TomTom for €2.9 billion ($4.6 billion). The deal with TomTom closed this month after it was cleared by the European Commissioner for Competition in May.
The search engine giant and over 30 partners announced in November a plan to launch a new breed of handsets based on Android by the second half of this year.
However, Google recently said that the handsets would not arrive until the fourth quarter. The new Android-based handsets will compete with Apple’s iPhone and devices based on Finnish phone giant Nokia Corp.’s Symbian operating system.
Thus, Google does not want to be left behind in the wireless race given its strong track record of product development in the area to date.
“When Google launches its Android program, Tele Atlas will provide maps for this,” said TomTom spokesman Taco Titiular. Tele Atlas already has an agreement with Google for which details are not available. The new agreement is non-exclusive, Titiular said.
The new pact between Google and Tele Atlas will benefit the latter more than in the past. Not only will the map maker be paid for its data, but it will also gain from user feedback from Google Maps, which consists of correction of errors in maps or information or adding additional data.
John Hanke, director of Google Earth and Google Maps, said his company appreciates the quality of maps provided by Tele Atlas, as well as the company’s innovative approach to business.
Furthermore, the agreement also gives Tele Atlas access to edits for its maps from Google’s community of users.
“Google’s innovation and leadership is undisputed, and we are proud to have the opportunity to be the map foundation for one of the world’s most progressive web companies,” said Bill Henry, CEO at Tele Atlas.
He also said that this agreement is significant because it gives the company access to input from a noteworthy online community of map users, whose feedback can help us keep our maps fresh and accurate.
Hanke said that the geospatial data enhances global search by organizing data and delivering results based on location were the key drivers for Google’s decision.
The deal will capitalize on the recently released Google Map Maker, a new tool which enables users of Google Maps to quickly add information to an uncharted area. For example, with Map Maker, users can rapidly draw roads, lakes and parks, points of interest, businesses, cities and localities. The maps are updated instantly after the information was submitted.
The feature especially aimed at countries for which digital map data is not very accurate, such as Cyprus, Iceland, Pakistan, Vietnam and the Caribbean nations of: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago.
Google Map Maker is akin to Mapplets, a program unveiled by Google last year that let users gather and add data from multiple sources to Google Maps.
Users of TomTom’s automotive navigation devices can send map corrections directly to TomTom, which are then verified and integrated into Tele Atlas’ maps. TomTom gets around 10,000 corrections a day from users, according to Titiular.
Tele Atlas is one of the two providers of digital map data for Google’s mapping services. The other is rival Navteq, which was snatched up by Nokia for $8 billion in a deal which has not fully finalized yet.
Financial details of the agreement remain undisclosed, but the agreement is the latest evidence of the increasing demand for global positioning satellite, or GPS, services — particularly for people on the move.
This expansion might act as evidence to the power of Google’s community, as well, if access to its knowledge is considered such a valuable thing. So keep watching for all sorts of map updates once Google and Tele Atlas have the chance to get settled.