Apple 3d Maps Acquires C3, Divorces Google Maps?

With the purchase of C3 3D Technologies, voices of a growing rift between Apple and the online mapping service Google maps, are now rife.

Apple continues its expansion in services, this time acquiring the Swedish C3 maps Technologies. The firm, which is dedicated to producing high-resolution 3D maps for online and mobile phone system applications, is the third purchase of Apple in the world of cartography , as it had previously taken control of the companies Poly9 and placebo.

Apple has reportedly acquired C3 Technologies, a provider of super realistic 3D mapping technologies.

The Web site 9to5 Mac reported over the weekend that according to sources, CE Technologies execs are now working as team in the Apple iOS division. The group remains in Sweden, where C3 was located prior to the acquisition, according to the blog post.

According to VentureBeat, the deal was for about $240 million, and was actually closed last year.

There is speculation that this acquisition is another step in Apple's career completely separate from Google. Both companies should be recalled, have worked together in the development of Google Maps for iPhone. With C3 Technologies under his command, Apple can do without services of the firm's search engine, a direct competitor in the field of mobile phone equipment.

C3 is known for the quality of their maps and advanced recognition software that allows 3D mapping with great realism, whose technology has its inception in the military. This new technology promises to create a new paradigm in terms of maps and mapping, seems to be quickly integrated with their new owners.

As the site says 9to5mac , CEO of C3, Mattias Astrom, along with CFO Kjell Cederstrand, Ludvig Emgard manager and former team of the firm, have joined together to work on Apple's mobile operating system, IOS, its offices in Sweden.

Although no specific date for the launch of the new application, the expectation is already high, especially when observing the work of C3 Technologies that are uploaded to You Tube. What remains to be known is how it will integrate with the OS from Apple and that potential new features will be incorporated in the service. It's simply a matter of waiting until more news comes to the surface.