Google launching their own, free, mobile map app?

You don’t say? Ridiculously overpriced map apps *cough*…TomTom…*cough*…navigon may soon be getting some competition from the multi-purpose likes of Google. Pointing out that Google already has Google Maps as their own is a rookie mistake. Understandable, though still very rookie. You see, they still license international map data from TeleAtlas while U.S. maps are now handled by Google’s own accrued map data. Which by the isn’t hard to believe seeing as the last several years have seen Google hoarding vast amounts of satellite imagery as well as rolling out new crowd sourcing services such as the data collecting service Google introduced just earlier this month. (extremely brief example: This service uses a phone’s GPS to track position and map the roads accordingly.)

Google’s contract with TeleAtlas doesn’t expire at the earliest until 2013 meaning until then, international map options are locked. In the meantime, Google may have something else planned as they rumored to be working on their own mobile map app that would be distributed for free with ads providing the necessary inward monetary flow. Can you imagine the impact that would have? As long as Google’s free map app is half decent, expensive options such as TelaNav, TomTom, and Navigon won’t even be a consideration. A massive influx of users to Google’s free service and boom — huge ad revenue.

Many higher ups from the other mobile map app providers above have already voiced their opinions on the matter and don’t seem too worried, but they should be. A spokeswoman for TeleNav (currently providing map data for AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile USA) who goes by the name of Mary Beth Lowell was quoted saying:

There’s a lot of content included in our applications that gets updated on an ongoing basis–and that costs money

Personal opinions aside, if Google does in fact release such an app, the market is in for quite a ride and will certainly undergo some form of change. I can certainly tell you that even a decent app will keep my hard earned dollars going towards other things instead of pricey monthly GPS subscriptions. Likewise for you?

Engadget > Forbes

Image Source

Author: Mike Norris

visit my website

Gadget lover, smartphone collector, and beer connoisseur. I've been writing about gadgets for three years now and loving every minute of it. Outside of the digital landscape, I enjoy being active outdoors. I'm always up for a good conversation, so feel free to drop me a line!