TomTom's Tele Atlas signs 5-yr map data access deal with Google

[Buddharay]

via Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/06/30/afx5166129.html):

AMSTERDAM (Thomson Financial) - Tele Atlas N.V., newly acquired by TomTom N.V., said that it has signed a five year license agreement with Google, giving Google access to Tele Atlas maps and dynamic content in more than 200 countries.

No financial terms were disclosed.

The agreement spans Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people )'s current and future map-based services and navigation offerings across mobile, online and desktop environments.

What do you guys think?

 

[Ricochet]

Should be a good thing, but hasn't Google been using TeleAtlas' services for its US maps, lately?

R?

 

[GarCor]

Should be a good thing, but hasn't Google been using TeleAtlas' services for its US maps, lately?

R?

In north America Google maps use data from Navteq North America ("NAVTEQ") as well as Tele Atlas North America, Inc.

If you go to Google maps.com and look in the bottom right hand corner you will see map data 2008 Navteq and if you open up Google maps through your TomTom & Tyre program and again look in bottom right hand corner of map you will see data 2008 by Tele-Atlas.

By going to Google maps direct ( Google maps.com ) or via Tyre program is a good way to compare the map data in your area to see who has it more acurate at this point and time.

Check this out and see for your self there is definately differences in some areas between the two versons of Google Maps.

 

[rickety]

I read that the reason for Google's bipolar map arrangement is financial. For TeleAtlas Google has a single license fee, whereas Navteq demands a price per use.

When Google detected that they were getting complaints or losing opportunities with their TeleAtlas maps, they signed a deal with Navteq. Provided Google maps is used direct by a live user, they are shown ads from Google that generate enough money for Google that they can afford the Navteq fees and still make a profit. However, if you use Tyre or some other program to access the Google maps API where no Google web page is displayed, then they show the TeleAtlas maps which are fully paid up!

Maybe it's urban legend but it makes sense to me

 

[Buddharay]

techcrunch is reporting that user edits on google maps are going to go straight to tele atlas, similar to mapshare or map insight. sounds good to me.

via techcrunch:

Up until now, the deal between Google Maps and its data providers has been a one-way street. Google licenses the underlying map data that forms the basis for Google Maps. Once it’s up there, anyone on the Web can enhance the maps, correct faulty data, or add their own. But up until now, Tele Atlas did not benefit from those edits. As part of the new pact, Tele Atlas will have access to edits made by the Google Maps community to update the underlying maps. (The company already collects similar corrections from the Map Share feature in the 20 million TomTom GPS car navigation systems out there).