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Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and TomTom Team Up to Create Alternative to Google Maps
Introduction
Google and Apple currently dominate the online maps market and charge mobile app developers for access to their mapping services. However, a group consisting of Meta, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and TomTom aims to provide an alternative. They have formed the Overture Maps Foundation, which has collected and cleaned 59 million points of interest for free use as the base layer for a new map application. This move gives companies the ability to build their own maps without relying on Google or Apple.
The Overture Maps Foundation
The Overture Maps Foundation, established last year, has gathered a vast amount of data on places such as restaurants, landmarks, streets, and regional borders. This data is now available for free and can be used as the foundation for creating new map applications. Meta and Microsoft collected and donated the data to Overture, saving other companies the time and resources required to gather and clean this valuable information.
Benefits for Companies
Many companies find Google and Apple's maps inadequate because they don't offer access to the underlying data. Instead, these companies allow app makers to use their maps as a service and charge fees for each access. Overture's offering of underlying map data enables companies to build their own maps and integrate their proprietary information, tailoring their offerings to their specific needs.
Challenges and Solutions
One of the challenges of map data is keeping it up to date as businesses close and roads change. The Overture Maps Foundation plans to address this challenge by encouraging its members to contribute real-time information, ensuring accurate and regular updates. They also plan to utilize artificial intelligence technology and other automated techniques to assist with the maintenance of the maps.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and TomTom through the Overture Maps Foundation offers a promising alternative to Google and Apple's mapping services. Companies can now build their own maps using Overture's cleaned and formatted data, allowing for greater customization and control. This move not only provides more options for mobile app developers but also paves the way for emerging technologies such as augmented reality and self-driving cars that rely heavily on high-quality mapping software.
Hot Take: Potential Impact on New Business
The collaboration between Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and TomTom through the Overture Maps Foundation presents an exciting opportunity for new businesses entering the mobile app development and technology sectors. By offering a free alternative to Google and Apple's dominant mapping services, the Overture Maps Foundation opens up possibilities for these new businesses to create innovative map applications without incurring the cost of accessing existing services.
The availability of pre-collected and cleaned 59 million points of interest, including restaurants, landmarks, streets, and regional borders, provides a strong foundation for new businesses to build upon. This eliminates the need for companies to spend valuable time and resources on gathering and cleaning this data themselves, enabling them to focus on developing unique features and functionalities that differentiate their mapping applications.
Furthermore, the ability to integrate proprietary information into these maps gives new businesses the opportunity to tailor their offerings specifically to their target audience. This level of customization and control can help them stand out in a crowded market, attracting users who are looking for more specialized or niche mapping solutions.
However, new businesses must be mindful of the challenges associated with map data, including the need for regular updates as businesses close and roads change. The Overture Maps Foundation's focus on encouraging real-time information contributions from its members and leveraging artificial intelligence and automation technologies to maintain the accuracy of the maps can help address these challenges.
In conclusion, the collaboration between Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and TomTom through the Overture Maps Foundation empowers new businesses with the ability to create their own maps, offering a competitive alternative to existing mapping services. This move not only provides cost savings but also promotes innovation and customization in the mobile app development and technology sectors. As new businesses enter the market, they have the opportunity to leverage this alternative to drive their success and potentially disrupt the dominance of Google and Apple in the online maps market.
Article First Published at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/26/meta-microsoft-amazon-join-overture-maps-to-vie-with-apple-google.html.svg)
