Wednesday, December 12. 2007

Microsoft Acquires Multimap

From Microsoft PR:

"This morning at 7am PT, Microsoft announced the acquisition of Multimap, one of the United Kingdom’s top 100 technology companies and one of the leading online mapping services in the world. Multimap will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft as part of the Online Services Groups and the Microsoft Virtual Earth and Search teams. The acquisition will play a significant role in the future and growth of Microsoft’s Search business and the Live Search product and will strengthen Microsoft’s overall search, local and geo-mapping offering, driving further technological innovation through our business."
PR here.
The Guardian offers some facts and figures, though the price is not being disclosed.

Data from measurement firm Nielsen Online shows Google Maps has a 21.4% reach among the world's web users, compared with 1.4% for Multimap.

Google Maps recorded an estimated 71.5 million unique users during October and Google Earth, which offers satellite images as well as road maps, logged 22.7 million users.

Microsoft's Windows Live Maps had 7.1 million unique users globally during October.

Multimap had 1.4 million unique users, according to Nielsen, also behind rivals MapQuest, ViaMichelin, Mappy and Map24.

Comments

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The Times (London) says $50m - http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article3040853.ece - as a partner of MultiMap I have to say that looks like a good deal.

#1 James Cutler (Link) on 2007-12-12 10:51 (Reply)

I wonder to what extent the infamous MultiMap web mapping patent figured in the purchase decision.

#2 Allan Doyle on 2007-12-12 11:19 (Reply)

Probable.

#2.1 Daniel (Link) on 2007-12-12 13:38 (Reply)

There's also that whole trying to tap into the European tourism market thing that they didn't have much penetration on too. Google did a more focused job on that early on.

#2.1.1 Daniel (Link) on 2007-12-12 13:43 (Reply)

Good news and a strong partnership

#3 Stumpy on 2007-12-13 02:55 (Reply)

First Map 24 earlier this year by Navteq, now Mulitmap by Microsoft. Who is next???

Maybe www.map20.org - www.mapquest.com ???

#4 Scott on 2007-12-13 03:26 (Reply)

I am contacting you regarding an inaccuracy in the article that appeared in the Guardian newpaper, which was then replicated on Directions Magazine at http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/3735-Microsoft-Acquires-Multimap.html

In fact, Multimap’s own internal figures show more than 10 million unique users per quarter and Comscore shows close to 9 million.

#5 Aoibhinn Lawlor (Link) on 2007-12-14 06:46 (Reply)

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In reply to	[ Top level ]#1: James Cutler on 2007-12-12 10:51 #2: Allan Doyle on 2007-12-12 11:19   #2.1: Daniel on 2007-12-12 13:38     #2.1.1: Daniel on 2007-12-12 13:43 #3: Stumpy on 2007-12-13 02:55 #4: Scott on 2007-12-13 03:26 #5: Aoibhinn Lawlor on 2007-12-14 06:46
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