Skip to main content

Facebook Acquires Street-mapping Startup, Mapillary To Compete With Apple, Google

Facebook Acquires Street-mapping Startup, Mapillary To Compete With Apple, Google


Google and Apple are about to witness an intense competition from Tech rival, Facebook, following the acquisition of street-level mapping startup, Mapillary. Facebook entering the segment to compete for smartphone users in need of street mapping mobile apps.

The market had been silent for a while, with Google and Apple reigning supreme, but the competition level will now be bumped up by Facebook's entry into the market through Mapillary. Most smartphone users are more familiar with Google maps, but Facebook is trying to poach users and change the segment's status quo.

Facebook's Diverting Skills

Mapillary will be incorporated into Facebook's social media services, offering its users more than messaging service. Recall that Facebook had also acquired WhatsApp and Instagram to divert from its core service in order to strengthen its grip in the social media space.

The acquisition of the Swedish startup is no different, as Mapillary will be utilised to perfect Facebook's mapping service. Mapillary was built with uploaded photos from the public, with computer vision software applied to determine what an image is, like traffic signs, then allowing map builders to incorporate the data in their own maps.

Speaking about the street-level mapping of Mapillary, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jan Erik Solem, said that “From day one of Mapillary, we have been committed to building a global street-level imagery platform that allows everyone to get the imagery and data they need to make better maps.

"With tens of thousands of contributors to our platform and with maps being improved with Mapillary data every single day, we’re now taking the next big step on that journey.”

Facebook Acquisition To Make Mapillary Commercially Free

Mapillary, which had raised $24.5 million from investors within the last seven years according to Crunchbase, was acquired at an undisclosed amount. The deal is a big step on the part of Mapillary, as it will now be free for commercial users. Solem said this had been the vision of the company since inception.

“Today, we’re excited to share that Mapillary has joined Facebook to be part of their open mapping efforts. Starting today, it will also be free to use for commercial users as well. While we previously needed to focus on commercialization to build and run the platform, joining Facebook moves Mapillary closer to the vision we’ve had from day one of offering a free service to anyone,” Solem stated.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

N-Power: FG extends Batch C enrolment Aug 8

FG extends Batch C N-Power enrollment to August 8 Add caption The Federal Government says the enrolment for Batch C scheme of the N-Power Programme which started on June 26 will now close on August 8. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who disclosed this via  Twitter on Sunday night, said over 5 million applications have been received for the scheme. The Federal Government plans to enrol 400,000 applicants in the Batch C scheme. Batches A and B of the programme who are about to exit the programme held a rally at the National Assembly Complex last week, requesting FG to employ them as well as pay them a grant of N600,000 each. Providing an update on the development, the minister said on Sunday, “I received the news of a protest at the National Assembly by N-Power Batch A and B beneficiaries who presented a list of demands which we are reviewing and will address as practically possible. “Let me reiterate that th...
Post a Comment
Read more

FG SURVIVAL FUND TO COMMENCE REGISTRATION FEBRUARY 9TH

MSMEs SURVIVAL FUND TO COMMENCE REGISTRATION FOR GUARANTEED OFF-TAKE STIMULUS SCHEME & GENERAL MSME GRANT     100,000 Nigerians to benefit from one-off N50,000 MSME grant  The chairman of the Steering Committee of the MSMEs Survival Fund and guaranteed Off-take Stimulus Scheme and Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Y. Katagum, has announced the commencement of the Guaranteed Off-take Stimulus Scheme and the MSME Grant portal opening from February, 9th, 2021.  The Guaranteed Off-take Stimulus Scheme according to Amb. Katagum is aimed at protecting and sustaining the incomes of vulnerable Micro and Small Enterprises by guaranteeing the offtake of their products.   According to her, a total of 100,000 Micro and Small Enterprises are to benefit from the scheme.   The total target national number of beneficiaries is 100,000. The breakdown is as follows: Lagos, 3,880; Kano, 3,280; Abia, 3,080; while t...
Post a Comment
Read more

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES MADAGASCAN COVID-19 HERBAL “DRUG” FROM GUINEA BISSAU’S PRESIDENT EMBALO

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES MADAGASCAN COVID-19 HERBAL “DRUG” FROM GUINEA BISSAU’S PRESIDENT EMBALO President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday at the State House, Abuja, received the Madagascan native formulation against the Covid-19 pandemic, and reiterated that he will listen to science before allowing traditional or any new medicines to be administered on Nigerians. At an audience meeting with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau who brought along with him the samples of the traditional medicine as shared to African nations by Madagascar, President Buhari said his position on all such herbal or traditional medicinal postulates had remained the same. “We have our institutions, systems and processes in the country. Any such formulations should be sent to them for verification. I will not put it to use without the endorsement of our institutions,” said the Nigerian President. On the main reason for his visit, President Embalo said having stabilized his country after the tus...
Post a Comment
Read more