Apple Ups Driverless Trans Stake With Two Buys
Stephen Feyer
Apple Inc. won’t say if it is working on driverless car technology, but two recent acquisitions suggest that the Cupertino, Calif.-based tech giant is doing exactly that.
News broke today that Apple bought Metaio, a German firm that offers ‘augmented reality’ technology for such clients as BMW and Macy’s. Metaio began in 2003 as a Volkswagen project, according to reports.
Augmented reality offers navigational directions, computer-generated, three-dimensional images, and other visuals.
Coherent’s technologies included “iGPS”, a system that combines signals from traditional GPS satellites and Iridium’s communications satellites to provide a location service with greater accuracy and signal strength than can be provided by GPS alone.
Whereas consumer GPS applications are limited to accuracy of about three meters, iGPS could provide location to a few centimeters – potentially accurate enough to guide a self-driving vehicle.
Apple has not commented on how it plans to use Coherent’s technology, which could also support location-based services delivered via smartphone. Over the past several years, Apple has used acquisitions as part of a strategy to eliminate its reliance on Google Maps.
With location playing an increasing role in companies’ strategies and services, Apple is not the only big player trying to create its own expertise in mapping. Nokia has attracted several bidders for its HERE subsidiary.
A number of firms, including Apple, have expressed an interested in purchasing HERE, with the price cited in the media of $3.5 billion.
In addition, a consortium that includes BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Baidu, has publicly declared its interest in buying HERE. Audi has invited other automakers to join their bid. HERE provides navigation data for 80 percent of new vehicles, and in-car systems provide the bulk of revenue for HERE.
