SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has offered to acquire online transit-navigation service HopStop.com, people with knowledge of the deal said at the weekend, seeking to improve mapping tools after a rocky debut for its directions software in September last year.AllThingsD reports that Cupertino, California-based Apple is also purchasing Locationary, a Toronto-based company focused on business-location maps.New mapping software Apple debuted in September with the iPhone 5 has been faulted for getting users lost and for its lack of public transport directions. HopStop shows users in more than 500 cities the fastest way to travel by foot, bike, subway and car.Locationary deploys real-time data from a variety of sources to help users find featured businesses.Apple, which touted the map features as a key software change in the iPhone 5, built its navigation application amid a growing battle with Google, which had provided mapping data since the iPhone was introduced in 2007.Apple built the replacem...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.