Nokia Buys Navtec

[BlackBrownDog]

FROM GEOCHUMS...

Came across this while checking out one of the blogs I follow for work. Interesting quote:

This is especially harsh news for Garmin. They are now stuck with the choice of getting their data from two competiors. They currently get their data from NAVTEQ, a company that will be owned by a soon-to-be direct competitor; their other option is to buy data from TomTom, already a direct competitor.

Not sure where this will leave mapping on the Garmin. If I was Nokia and wanting to get into the GPSr market, I would be cutting Garmin off. Same with TomTom/TeleAtlas.

Lots of speculation though. Nokia maybe looking for away to provide better maps on its phones and sees this as a way to that end and as a revenue stream.

[cheechgang]

SOLUTION:

Just petition all the state and local governments to allow no new roads and we can continue to use the maps we have.

[ScouterJoe]

Garmin probably has contracts in place to get this data that Nokia/Navtec will have to honor. That will probably give them time to source new data. I believe the new magallans are getting their data from National Geograpic. So there are obviously other sources than just those two.

[Flooder]

It's not that odd for companies to buy from their competitors.

I work for a global supplier of Electrical Switchgear and we sell meters and software to a direct competitor and they re-brand it.