In spite of Apple`s efforts of securing a fast and accurate app that their users can rely on for their traveling needs, most iOS users still very much prefer to use Google Maps for their navigation, instead of Apple`s very own native maps app.
The iOS 6 offered particularly bad experiences to iPhone users when they used the maps app. The inaccuracies were so flagrant that Apple`s CEO Tim Cook offered them a direct apology in 2012.
The number of iPhone users who prefer using Google Maps is double the one of Apple`s native maps app users and this percentage does not sit well with Apple.
Therefore, to decrease their users dependency on Google Maps, for the past six years, Apple has been buying little start-up companies (or more prominent businesses) who have made significant research in navigation software.
The most recent of such acquisitions was that of the Coherent Navigation company. The start-up, founded in 2008, is the product of CEO Paul Lego and another two co-founders, William Bencze and Brett Ledvina.
It is yet unknown if and when a purchase has exactly been made, but leaders of Coherent Navigation, started appearing on Apple`s payroll since January.
Coherent Navigation`s website has also been offline for the most part of 2015, but at the end of April, came back online and their servers pointed to Apple`s very own servers.
The buy has not yet been confirmed officially and some voices claim that Lego, Bencze and Ledvina are simply working for Apple to help them implement a better system and that the start-up has not been purchased.
In an effort to improve their mapping system, Apple has also purchased Placebase company in 2009 and also little start-ups like Hopstop and Locationary. Later, in 2013, Apple bought BroadMap and Embark.
When questioned about whether or not a purchase of Coherent Navigation has been made, Apple replied that there is nothing out of the ordinary for their company to buy smaller start-ups that present research of interest.
However, buying Coherent Navigation might be the best investment Apple has made with the purpose of offering good mapping services. Seeing as the company`s research team managed to create a navigational system whose accuracy is in the limits of 3-5 meters, iOS users would surely jump on board if their iPhones offered such a precise method of traveling.
Apple also plans on adding features such as street view and transit information to improve the experience of the users.
Image Source: smarteranalyst
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