Amazon buys mapping firm for $2.8 million
If you aren’t buying up map companies these days, you aren’t cool. Amazon is the latest to snap up a map company of their own. The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon has bought UpNext, a firm who provides mobile mapping, navigation, directions, and more for $2.8 million.
UpNext apparently has their leg up on 3D mapping technology, as well, so Amazon would be right up there with the big boys. Buy what’s the reason? Why, the Kindle, of course. Amazon sent a clear message with the Kindle Fire that, while they may be using Android for their software, they would be making it their own.
If the user interface for the 7 inch tablet wasn’t enough, then completely bypassing Google’s apps ecosystem was. And now they want to do even more to offer what they believe is the optimal tablet experience. We’ll see what comes of this, but for now we only know that they bought the company. [via WSJ]