Update: NAVTEQ Shutting Down Phone Map App Nav4All that Uses NAVTEQ Data
NAVTEQ responded to NAV4ALL’s claim that its license was unexpectedly not renewed in an Italian blog (strange place to make a statement on the matter in my opinion). It’s view of things:
... it [NAVTEQ] was simply unable to reach an agreement that aligned with its terms and conditions.
Speaking to an Italian gadget blog, Navteq said it doesn’t disclose the details of individual contracts, but added that Nav4all’s ‘surprise’ at the decision should have been nothing of the kind as it followed standard practice in the renegotiation process in advance the existing contract’s deadline and that everything was scrupulously documented.
The statement also indicates that NAVTEQ continues to be independent and did not act on direction from above, that is, from Nokia. The Inquirer notes that another NAVTEQ licensee notes increased licensing fees and restrictions of late.
——- Original post 2/1/10—————-
The free app is called Nav4All, has about 27 million users and runs on almost all phones.
Nav4All CEO Hennie Koerkamp explained the abrupt end to his company’s app in a letter to customers:
It is with the deepest regret that we hereby notify you that the global navigation of Nav4All will go offline in 3 days [as of 31 Jan]...
The reason for the same is that the data licence agreement with Navteq (a 100% Nokia subsidiary) was not extended, in a totally unexpected manner. It is not possible to implement data from another supplier in our Nav4All systems within the short term. The Nav4All navigation system was developed for Navteq data. Nav4All has therefore been constrained to stop.
We greatly regret the fact that we have to suspend the operation of our service.
This is the beginning of the “map wars” now that Nokia has turned it mapping app free and apparently will limit who can use its NAVTEQ data. I’m hopeful Nav4all will look at OpenStreetMap or another source once the dust settles.
