Apple is seeking to improve its mapping applications for its smart phones by purchasing Silicon Valley start up WiFiSlam. While confirming the acquisition, the company refused to provide details of the transaction.
The news was broken by the Wall Street Journal, quoting an anonymous source that said that the purchase was about US$20 million. What Apple did confirm, it said, "Apple acquires smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."
WiFiSlam is a company that develops indoor tracking and other similar services for smart phones. Almost all of technology firms such as Apple and Google have been competing to provide better and usable map applications for its users. For its part, Google's Google Maps has been widely accessible through Google's Android platform. This is the main rival to the iOS platform of Apple.
The race continues in the smartphone applications for rivals.
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