Intel Corp. (Nasdaq INTC) has acquired Telmap Ltd., an Israeli location-based services company, for $300 million. Telmap will become part of Intel’s consumer services division and support Intel AppUp, its app store for consumers who want to download software for their mobile phones or other devices. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Herzliya-based Telmap has 210 employees and says it is profitable. It provides mapping, local business listings and other location-based services for applications. It primarily works with wireless operators in Europe, and powers such applications as Orange Maps and Vodafone’s Find and Go. Roughly seven million subscribers use the company’s services worldwide.
Intel AppUp general manager Peter Biddle explained to "All Things Digital" magazine that Intel would not be so bold to say that it is trying to compete against the “galactically” big Google Maps or Bing Maps franchises. But he does see some wiggle room when it comes to working with third-party developers.
Biddle said that many developers today rely on Google Maps to provide directions or more information within their applications, but then must agree to various business licenses, which could change down the road.
If developers use mapping and location services from Telmap instead, they will own that relationship with the consumer, rather than sending them to Google or Microsoft.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 2, 2011
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