BBC News - Nokia Maps digitises streets to battle Google’s threat
►http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20497719
By Leo Kelion Technology reporter
Nokia smells an opportunity. Maps have become one of the most closely-watched battlegrounds in tech after a user-backlash led Apple to apologise for the quality of its iOS6 Maps update.
The Finnish firm quickly capitalised by beating Google to the release of an app in Apple’s iPhone and iPad store.
Giving away a product that cost millions of dollars to create to owners of a rival’s products might seem like an odd business decision, but behind it lies a critical point.
If Nokia’s 25-year-old mapping business is to survive the evolution from dedicated sat-nav systems to smart devices it needs to secure as much feedback data as it can.
That means attempting to woo smartphone and tablet users with a series of innovations.
