German Three Shun Google By Using Nokia For Mapping Technology

Nokia is nearing an agreement to sell its maps business to BMW Group, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, according to people familiar with the matter.

An agreement could be reached as early as next week, with an announcement targeted for around July 31, said the people, who asked not to be named because the negotiations are private.

Talks could still fall apart as the carmaker consortium hammers out final details such as intellectual property rights with Nokia, the people said. Nokia has sought as much as $4 billion for the unit, called HERE, people familiar with the matter have said.

Read Article

TheSteve - 7/21/2015 9:49:34 AM

+1 Boost

This reminds me of Apple, and Apple Maps: rather than doing what's best for the customer, the manufacturer chooses to do what's best for themselves, and in doing so, the customer ends up with an inferior product.

I have yet to see an OEM Nav system that comes close to the look and feel of a Garmin GPS, even though the German 3 sell their Nav systems for several thousand dollars and charge customers for map updates (which are years out of date when new, and may take years until you see an update) and annual traffic subscriptions. Meanwhile, a flagship Garmin GPS (with dash cam) costs only $399, and it includes free lifetime (and frequent, up-to-date) map updates and traffic subscriptions.

Even if OEMs gave their Nav systems away "free" (i.e., hiked the price of the vehicle to include the multi-thousand dollar option), they're still rubbish compared to a Garmin unit, which can be had at a small fraction of the price.

USNA1999 - 7/21/2015 10:47:07 AM

+2 Boost

Its all about the European Union (EU) retaining control. They wouldn't allow an American company like APPLE or GOOGLE take control of this business.