vs.

Apple buys C3 Technologies - a shot at Google Maps

Apple starts the development

of its own mapping solution for

iOS with the repurchase of the

Swedish company C3

Technologies specialized in

3D mapping.

Apple definitely wants to

compete Google’s GPS

offerings and stop relying on

technology from a competitor.

It currently licenses Google’s

mapping technology thus

when you get directions on

Apple iOS you are using the

Google Maps application.

The C3 acquisition was a

matter of growing Apple’s

database as well. C3’s

database includes 100 cities

worldwide.

Another reason Apple

invested in such technologies,

is that the technology doesn’t

work as seamlessly on

Google’s Android phones.

What does C3 Technologies do?

C3 Technologies creates

incredibly high-quality and

detailed 3D maps. The 3D

mapping is camera based and

the technology picks up

buildings, homes, and even

smaller objects.

C3 Technologies’ official

company description: “C3

Technologies is the leading

provider of 3D mapping

solutions, offering photo realistic

models of the world for search,

navigation and geographic

information systems.”

How C3′s technology works?

The Sweden-based company’s softwares and advanced

algorithms enable C3 to rapidly assemble extremely precise 3D

models, and integrate them with traditional 2D maps or satellite

images.

• Flight (altitude 500m , resolution 10cm) – image capture

• Sorting images

• Extracting 3D information

• Applying textures

• Classifying terrain

The future of mapping technologies? I am sure that 3D maps would

provide awesome geographic

location capabilities, but we

will see if the addition of 3D

buldings, as beautiful as they

are, will add a true value to a

mapping service.

In the short term, Apple will

have to catch up with Google

Maps, but what if the new

Apple maps programs is not

as good as Google Maps? It’s

going to cause some trouble

for Apple.

What would you like to see in a new “iMap” app ?