Apple Inc. has bought a Calif.-based mapping startup which could give the company a head start over rivals in the indoor navigation space.
Apple did not provide details about the purchase, but a report in the Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, said Apple paid around $20 million for WiFISLAM.
Many users have complained about inaccurate directions provided by Apple’s navigation system. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, had earlier promised users the company will improve the service.
Apple’s navigation system competes with that of Google Inc.’s Google Map which is widely used in the company’s Android mobile platform, a rival of Apple’s iOS for mobile devices.
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While many organizations have been offering GPS-based (global positioning system) mobile navigation systems, no firm has yet provided an industry-leading tool for navigating inside buildings.
