Friday, November 6. 2009

Podcast: A Hallway Conversation with Maarten Oldenhof

Adena Schutzberg interviewed Automotive Navigation Data (AND) CEO Maarten Odelhof about the state of commercial geodata, the licensing challenges and the role the community can play in keeping data up-to-date. This is the third in a series of interviews with geospatial insiders and outsiders.

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Wednesday, November 4. 2009

Acquisition/Parntership Roundup

TeleCommunications Systems, a developer of text messaging location-based software, has acquired Solvern Innovations, a Baltimore company specializing in cyber security.

- press release

MapmyIndia, one of India’s map and GPS navigation services providers has signed a deal with Survey of India. MapmyIndia can use and provide value added services to Survey of India maps.

- India Times

Loopt has added "Pulse" a tool to access content (like restaurant reviews from Zagat and Citysearch) as well as a search feature and check in option to its LBS app. Loopt will also be using NAVTEQ LocationPoint Advertising to offer the targeted and relevant offers and promotions.


- TechCrunch

Aussie Ipernica/NearMap Challenge Google/Bing Maps

That's how the Ipernica, which acquired NearMap last year, is describing its launch as a new media property. The technology (proprietary) sounds a lot like Pictometry (the sensor pod attaches to small aircraft and takes oblique and ortho shots, with quick processing on the ground).

The NearMap portal is expected to launch before the end of the year and will include monthly coverage of Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane that has been built up over the past year.

The business model, per CEO Graham Griffith: "There are multiple revenue streams but the main one is licensing the service to local, state and Federal Governments, It will be free to consumers." He tosses around how great an NSDI would be. The future? Coverage of 700 cities worldwide; Australia is a just a pilot project.

I don't buy the competition with Google/Bing Maps since those (while the tech is licensable) drive ad revenue, not data licensing. And, while MS does own some of its data and uses and sells the UltraCam that collects it, neither company is yet focussed on a data licensing model. Further, many government entities use Google and Microsoft's public APIs for free.

- ITWire

Friday, October 30. 2009

Podcast: A Hallway Conversation with Philip O'Doherty, CEO, eSpatial

Adena Schutzberg interviewed eSpatial CEO Philip O'Doherty about Web GIS, its implementation challenges, editing capabilities ("CAD-lite") and future. This is the second in a series of interviews with geospatial insiders and outsiders.

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Wednesday, October 28. 2009

TomTom Shares Drop on Price Drop/Income Drop in Q3

I'll let the Wall Street Journal put it succinctly:

Shares in Dutch navigation equipment maker TomTom NV (TOM2.AE) Wednesday dropped as much as 13.5% after the company posted a 47% drop in third quarter net profit due to a steeper-than-expected price decline for its key navigation products.

Average selling prices for PNDs dropped by 27% compared to last year and 12% compared to the second quarter. The total number of devices sold was actually up 2%. Execs explained the price drop as anticipating promotions for later in the year (holidays).

Still the company is ahead of schedule in cutting costs EUR90 over last year.

- Q3 Results

Tuesday, October 27. 2009

Podcast: The State of Augmented Reality

What is augmented reality and how does it relate to geospatial technology? Is it "just cool" or are there real uses for it? Further, is there any money it? Our editors offer up definitions, uses and suggestions for geospatial companies waiting on the sidelines.

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