Microsoft Acquires Multimap

for an undisclosed sum

[inbound]

Microsoft has just purchased Multimap, a leading European mapping provider, for an undisclosed sum.

This article [nma.co.uk] and all others relating to the news don't seem to have much more than the headline tells us.

It's an interesting move from a Local Search point of view as I can see Microsoft using the brand to showcase additional services. We'll have to wait and see.

[engine]

"Multimap will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, as part of the Virtual Earth and Search teams in the Online Services Group"

Microsoft Acquires Multimap [microsoft.com]

[multimap.com...]

[rmay]

Not bad... and they seem to have more recent map data for Canada! Google still hasn't displayed the west side of my street that was completed two years ago. ;)

[nickreynolds]

Shame - Google getting more of a monopoly on more things

[Peanut Butter Wolf]

MC's too late again. This doesn't touch Goog Maps...

[conor]

Dunno ... MM has coverage where G doesn't and I have seen sites intergrate MM in a more appealing way than GMaps.

[Jeroen van de Wiel]

It's a shame, no one remembers Microsoft Terraserver (1999). They were once a leap ahead of everyone else and Google Earth.

[Whitey]

We evaluated it recently - a good product with many advanced features and different data sets over the same area, but expensive.

If Microsoft can leverage the features and offer it for free to compete with Google, it will probably be adopted well and become a strong player in online mapping .

Still, the street level 3-D locational data that Google is rolling out is another key to be equalled IMO.

[edited by: Whitey at 5:59 am (utc) on Dec. 14, 2007]

[Robert Charlton]

This doesn't touch Goog Maps...

I agree, at least in my neighborhood. Not even remotely close. It's slower, glitchier, and doesn't zoom in as far.