The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is in early talks with Foursquare – the popular location-based social network to include local data in the Maps application.
According to the report, Apple is actively looking to build an
“arsenal of local data” to compete with Google, which recently announced
that the Google Maps for iPhone was downloaded more than 10 million times in the first 48 hours.
WSJ reports:
Apple is in early discussions to
integrate local data from Foursquare Labs Inc. into its mapping
application, according to people familiar with the talks, as the company
continues to build an arsenal of local data to try to take on Google.
The talks, which took place in recent weeks and involve Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue,
are the latest sign of Apple’s plans to more tightly integrate local
services into the iPhone and iPad. The discussions with New York-based
Foursquare come as Apple has been talking to a number of companies that
collect local data to improve its new mapping product. The maps service, released in September, has had a rocky reception and faces fierce competition from Google.
In addition to allowing users to check-in at venues like bars and
restaurants and connect with friends, Foursquare also gives personalized
recommendations and deals based on where you, your friends, and people
with your tastes have been. The report claims that Apple could include
that data in the Maps app. Currently, Yelp’s business reviews are integrated into Apple’s Maps experience.
It will be interesting to see how Apple plans to integrate local data
from services like Yelp, FourSquare etc., but it could give Apple the
edge in the long term by integrating with services that directly compete
with Google.
Via: WSJ
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