Mercedes-Benz and Google Partner for Navigation, Maps and YouTube Integration
What does this deal mean for HERE and other mapping companies?
After our deadline last week, Mercedes-Benz and Google GOOG 0.00%↑ announced a strategic partnership that allows the auto giant to create its own branded navigation, integrate Google Maps information and bring YouTube into luxury vehicles.
Initially, Mercedes-Benz will give customers to Google’s Place Details that provides information about millions of businesses. Other features to be integrated into the Mercedes-Benz Operating System will be an upgraded navigation experience and Google Maps data to enable assisted driving features such as automatic speed adjustments before intersections, roundabouts or curves, the company said.
Industry analyst Roger Lanctot said the announcement “is most ominous for Mercedes’ joint venture partnership with mapmaker HERE.” He said that part of the decision by Mercedes, Audi and BMW to make a joint venture investment in HERE Technologies eight years ago was to hedge against Google’s relentless control of the mapping and navigation market.
For its part, HERE, through an unnamed spokesperson, said that the mapping giant was working with nearly every automaker in the world on location data and services. The company provides the HD Map for the Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot in Germany and the United States.
“In addition, Mercedes-Benz integrates HERE SD maps across multiple platforms, as well as a variety of HERE location services, including Live Traffic and EV Range Assist Service,” the spokesperson said, without mentioning the Google deal.
Also announced was a “multi-billion dollar deal” with Luminar LAZR 0.00%↑ that expands an existing partnership to develop autonomous driving capabilities. The companies, which have worked together for two years, plan to integrate Luminar’s Iris lidar and software into next-generation production vehicle lines by mid-decade.
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MWC 2023: No Automakers, No Mapping Companies…No Problem?
BARCELONA—While the annual Mobile World Congress here has never been known as an auto show, the lack of automakers and digital map companies exhibiting stood out. In terms of mapmakers, always the cornerstone of the location industry, not one of the “biggies” (HERE Technologies, TomTom, Mapbox) exhibited.
One analyst believes the reason is that there are uncertainties in the world of car connectivity—and European Commission regulations and policies have been fostering this unsettling trend. “Four or five years ago multiple car companies had booths at MWC including Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, and many others. The GSMA, which organizes the event, was at the height of its relevance to the auto industry. Today, the GSMA is struggling to define a clear leadership position and MWC has devolved into more of an eco-system event for automotive connectivity suppliers,” said industry expert Roger Lanctot, in a LinkedIn column.
Lanctot said that such organizations as the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) and its members have tried to sort out “sticking points and overcome or resolve various concerns and objections over spectrum and protocols” that are caused by the EC.
Still, there were a few auto announcements at MWC. Qualcomm QCOM 0.00%↑ rolled out its Snapdragon Automotive 5G Platform and Cisco CSCO 0.00%↑ announced that it was working with Mercedes-Benz to equip new E Class vehicles with Webex Meetings and Calling. The company said the new vehicles, equipped with Wi-Fi and cellular data connection, will be the new home office.
While no mapping company gave a reason why they were not exhibiting at MWC, a HERE Technologies spokesperson pretty much said it wasn’t a priority. “HERE has joined the industry in calibrating its presence at global trade conferences, including MWC, since the start of the pandemic. Today, HERE engages with customers and the industry across multiple physical and virtual settings, such as CES 2023, but also smaller scale events throughout the year,” the spokesperson said.
This year’s Mobile World Congress, which is now called just MWC by its organizers, focused on 5G acceleration, immersive technology and radio access networks.
While there were not a lot of mapping companies at MWC, some location companies made announcements. Radisys launched its ReachPoint network-based geolocation platform that allows Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to deliver services capable of reaching places where GPS may not be available, such as inside tall buildings, the company said.
IoT asset management continues to be a strong market for exhibitors at MWC. Telit Cinterion announced its global rebranding at MWC that emphases the company’s growing position in the IoT marketplace. The company also launched 5G LPWA modules for smart metering, asset tracking, telematics and other markets.
The modules, which feature Sony’s ALT1350 chipset support Wi-Fi scan and GNSS to maximize technologies for indoor and outdoor positioning applications such as tracking high-value medical equipment around a hospital campus, the company said.
Semtech’s Sierra Wireless also used uses Sony’s Altair ALT1350 chipset for its latest HL Series LPWA module, the 5G HL7900, for the LPWA IoT market.
Taoglas Purchased By Graham Partners
Antenna and IoT component manufacturer Taoglas exhibited GNSS antennas and other solutions at MWC. However, the big news was its acquisition by private investment firm Graham Partners, which is taking a majority ownership.
The company said the deal will support Taoglas' expansion of in-house RF engineering and design, new product development, sales channels and customer base across many IoT industries, including mobility, infrastructure, transportation, medical, industrial and smart city verticals.
Co-Founder and CEO Dermot O’Shea will continue to lead the company. However, the company said that co-founder and CEO, Ronan Quinlan, will be exiting the company to lead Superfly, a new smart recycling venture.
IoT asset management continues to be a strong market for exhibitors at MWC. Telit Cinterion announced its global rebranding at MWC that emphases the company’s growing position in the IoT marketplace. The company also launched 5G LPWA modules for smart metering, asset tracking, telematics and other markets.
The modules, which feature Sony’s ALT1350 chipset support Wi-Fi scan and GNSS to maximize technologies for indoor and outdoor positioning applications such as tracking high-value medical equipment around a hospital campus, the company said.
Semtech’s Sierra Wireless also used uses Sony’s Altair ALT1350 chipset for its latest HL Series LPWA module, the 5G HL7900, for the LPWA IoT market.
Other announcements made at MWC 2023:
Quectel Wireless Solutions launched its ultra-wideband (UWB) automotive-grade AU30Q module. Based on Qurvo’s DW3300Q UWB chipset, the module enables real-time outdoor and indoor location and wireless communication, the company said.
OriginGPS exhibited its GNSS modules, cellular IoT systems and new IoTracker series. GNSS modules and IoT products come equipped with a dashboard displaying multiple IoT devices on a map with configurable trip routes, location history per selected dates, and color-coding, the company said.
HARMAN partnered with the American Center for Mobility (ACM) to test use cases of road-ready technologies, including Vehicle to Everything (V2X) enabled by roadside infrastructure and edge computing using 5G cellular.
KORE launched its technology software MODGo, which provides a digital approach to IoT asset management. The software is designed to help organizations overcome the challenges of IoT implementation and management, the company said.
NTT Docomo announced it will shut down its NB-IoT network, less than one year after launching.
UnaBiz has partnered with The Things Industries to provide customers with a better experience for collecting IoT data and device heterogeneous fleet device management, the company said.
Immersal Oy, part of Hexagon, announced the launch of Immersal City-Scale, a Visual Positioning System (VPS). This solution offers accuracy in outdoor location-based services for mobile network operators and their enterprise customers, the company said.
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Google Maps Faces Renewed Antitrust Scrutiny by DOJ
The U.S. Department of Justice is renewing its antitrust investigation on whether Google GOOG 0.00%↑ bundles its map and search products to force app developers to use both.
Politico reported that the DOJ is looking how Google Automotive Services is used to package maps, app store and voice assistant for auto manufacturers. The publication also reported that DOJ officials have been meeting with Google competitors and customers to assess who would be witnesses in a potential lawsuit, which could come as early as this year.
As Location Business News reported last year, Google Maps’ parent company Alphabet Inc. grabbed an initial victory in court against antitrust litigation that alleged its Maps business steered app developers into using its products over those of competitors. According to published reports, Judge Jeffrey White, who tentatively dismissed the proposed class action, gave businesses leading the proposed class action 30 days to refile.
Google, and its lucrative Maps business, has been in legal trouble before. In November, Google paid the largest privacy settlement of its kind, $391.5 million, to settle a multistate investigation into allegations it tracked user locations without their permission.
The investigation, led by Oregon and Nebraska with 38 other state attorney generals, found that Google mislead its users to think they had turned off location tracking features on their smartphones. However, the user location data was stored and then used for Google’s lucrative ad business.
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Mappedin Raises $8.6 Million in Series A Funding for Indoor Mapping Market
Indoor map creator Mappedin announced last week that it has raised $8.6 million in Series A funding. San Diego-based Channel Equity Partners led the round.
The company said the funds will be used to support its growth, scale a team, strengthen go-to-market efforts and expand into new industries. Mappedin’s indoor mapping solutions are installed in malls, offices, stadiums, campuses and airports for wayfinding and asset management and other uses.
Mappedin also named industry veteran James Killick to its board of directors. Killick’s career spans 40 years at Apple Maps’ Global Partnerships team, Etak, MapQuest and Esri. "With CEP and James Killick at the table, I've never been more excited to go to work every day and build towards One Map Everywhere. The team at Mappedin has done a lot with relatively little historically – now it's time to show what we can really do," said Hongwei Liu, Mappedin CEO and founder, in a statement.
Killick, a strategic mapping industry advisor, writes about the mapping business in his blog, Map Happenings (www.maphappenings.com).
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🙁 Velodyne Lays Off Over 200 in San Jose After Merger. “Velodyne Lidar laid off more than 200 workers at its San Jose office, including the CEO and CTO, after it completed a merger with Ouster in early February, according to a report from the Silicon Valley Business Journal.”
✔ Garmin Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Results.
🛰 Air Force Navigation Satellite to Launch on Vulcan's First National Security Mission. “USSF-106 will carry the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3), an experiment funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory and billed as the future GPS. NTS-3, made by L3Harris LHX 0.00%↑, will broadcast positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) signals from geostationary Earth orbit."
🌍 U.S. Army Extends Maxar's Contract for 3D Geospatial Data. “Maxar’s 3D digital twin of the Earth is used to develop highly accurate immersive training environments for the U.S. Army and maps for autonomous vehicle navigation.”
Maps:
🤔 5 Features That Make Google Maps Better Than Apple Maps. “Eventually, what makes a big difference in the comparison between Google Maps and Apple Maps is the global availability of new features. Apple AAPL 0.00%↑ has indeed developed a set of new-generation features for Apple Maps, but the rollout to users across the world is happening very slowly.”
😉 Google Maps Rival Gets Major Update With High-Precision Navigation. “Petal Maps now allows users to explore the Earth in a three-dimensional view. The continents and the oceans are displayed on a 3D globe.”
🗺 Waze Ditches Its IoS Widget in Latest Updates. “Quietly announced in a forum post earlier this month, Waze confirmed that it would be removing its iOS widget due to “significantly low” usage.”
🤞 MapmyIndia Launches Mappls GPS Trackers and Maps for Cars and Bikes.
Connected and Autonomous Vehicles:
👍 Octo Telematics and Ford Motor To Expand Data Partnership in Europe. “By leveraging Ford’s F 0.00%↑ connected vehicle data, OCTO said it will enhance its telematics services in insurance and analytical services in the UK, Italy, Germany, France and Spain.”
🚘 Waymo’s L.A. Robotaxi Fleet Is Going Fully Driverless. “Waymo, Alphabet Inc.’s multibillion-dollar bet on self-driving cars and trucks, is pulling the human safety drivers out of its robotaxi test fleet in Los Angeles”
💰 Kiwibot Secures $10M to Triple Its Fleet of Robots and Expand on College Campuses. “Kiwibot today announced it has secured $10 million in financing from Swiss-based asset financing group kineo finance. The agreement will help Kiwibot with its manufacturing and scaling needs, growing its robot fleet that has so far completed over 250,000 autonomous food deliveries.”
🚛 Autonomous Truck Startup Locomation to Close. “Driverless truck startup company Locomation has laid off most of its staff as it winds down operations, the second autonomous vehicle outfit in the Pittsburgh area to close in four months.”
🚗 Motional Opens Las Vegas Robotaxi Service To Nighttime Hours.
👌 Innoviz Expands German Footprint with New Munich Office.
Fleet:
🚚 Michelin Launches Sustainability-Focused Fleet Management Brand. “Michelin launched a fleet management brand focused on improving sustainability in trucking”
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Location Industry Briefs
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HERE Partners With Cognizant
HERE Technologies has partnered with professional services company Cognizant CTSH 0.00%↑to provide real-time location insights and analytics to Cognizant’s customers in the retail, ride-hailing, logistics, manufacturing and automotive sectors. Cognizant will use the HERE location platform’s data visualization and exchange capabilities – including access to real-time traffic data, vehicle, weather, and detailed road attribute data – to build spatial intelligent solutions for its customers, the company said.
The companies say the partnership benefits organizations by supporting their operations with new location-based insights on customers, pricing and surrounding competition. Cognizant will also use HERE Traffic and Places of Interest (POI) data to provide retail and banking businesses with location-based insights on store outlets and bank branches, the company said.
Contact: Christina Schneider, Cognizant, Christina.schneider@cognizant.com.
Parkopedia and Simplenight Partner
Parkopedia has partnered with Simplenight to provide drivers with a range of in-car parking, charging and payment options. The initial phase will include global parking data covering both on- and off-street locations, the company said.
Simplenight’s platform enables companies worldwide to offer real-time booking options such as dining, accommodation, attractions, events, fuel, parking, shopping and more. The unique platform is designed to integrate into automaker infotainment and navigation systems, the company said.
Contact: Adam Calland, Parkopedia, 44(0)7838219129, adam.calland@parkopedia.com.
Targa Telematics acquires Viasat Group
Connected mobility company Targa Telematics has acquired Viasat Group Spa, which specializes in telematics, IoT services and security solutions. The new entity will be operational in eight European countries.
Contact: Susanne Furini, Targa Telematics, 39 345 7274925 susanne.furini@targatelematics.com, www.targatelematics.com.
STMicroelectronics Offers IoT Module With GNSS Capability
STMicroelectronics' STM 0.00%↑ ST87M01 compact modules combine NB-IoT data communication with GNSS geo-location capability for IoT devices and assets. LTE Cat NB2 NB-IoT industrial modules cover worldwide cellular frequency bands and integrate advanced security features, the company said.
The integrated native GNSS receiver with multi-constellation access ensures enhanced and accurate localization along with optimized power savings features while operating during NB-IoT sleep time slots, the company said. The ST87M01 is in sampling now to customers worldwide, the company said.
Contact: STMicroelectronics, www.st.com/en/wireless-connectivity/nb-iot-products.html.
Comtech Joins Microsoft Azure Program
Comtech CMTL 0.00%↑ has announced that the company will join Microsoft’s MSFT 0.00%↑ Azure Operator Nexus Ready Program to offer customers interoperable cloud services. Microsoft’s Azure Nexus Operator Ready Program certifies that Comtech’s Location Management Function (LMF), a standards-based location server for 5G, will be interoperable with Azure Operator Nexus, the company said.
Contact: Jamie Clegg, Comtech, (480) 532-2523, jamie.clegg@comtech.com, www.comtech.com.
Topcon Rolls Out GNSS-Based Transplanting Control
Topcon Agriculture has introduced Transplanting Control, which provides GNSS-based guidance, autosteering and control, benefitting producers of permanent and perennial trees, fruits and vegetable crops.
Farmers can also expect reductions in fuel and other inputs through the reliability of GNSS, resulting in fewer mistakes and corrections, the company said.
Contact: Staci Fitzgerald, Topcon Positioning Group, (925) 245-8610, corpcomm@topcon.com.
Draganfly Integrates Vermeer VPS Payload
Draganfly DPRO 0.00%↑ has announced that Vermeer will integrate its VPS (visual positioning system) Payload with Draganfly’s Commander 3XL. This partnership will enable Draganfly to collaborate with Vermeer's military and government clients and create solutions, the company said. Draganfly’s Commander 3XL drone will be integrated with Vermeer’s VPS as part of its modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform.
Contact: Arian Hopkins, Draganfly, media@draganfly.com, www.draganfly.com
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GeoComm Launches Vertical Location Content
GeoComm has launched its Vertical Location Content, an extension of Vertical Location Services, which enhances raw z-axis 9-1-1 caller location data by making it actionable, the company said. GeoComm Vertical Location Services, rolled out in November 2022, is a web API for converting raw z-axis positioning measurements of 9-1-1 callers' cell phones into dispatchable locations. GeoComm says Vertical Location Content provides information about indoor spaces, including indoor maps and details about what is inside buildings along with other data.
Contact: Susan Becker, GeoComm, 3203812169, sbecker@geocomm.com, www.geocomm.com.
AiRISTA, KINEXON, Quuppa Cited by Gartner for Indoor Location Services
AiRISTA, KINEXON and Quuppa have announced that it was named by Gartner as a leaders or visionares in the 2023 Magic Quadrant for Indoor Location Services. Click here for a copy of the full report. AiRISTA offers its Unified Vision Solution for indoor location services platform to include on-premises or in a Cloud platform.
Contact: AiRISTA, salesinfo@airista.com; Molly Stein, for KINEXON molly.stein@archetype.co; Quuppa, www.quuppa.com.
GPS Insight Partners With Savings4Members
GPS Insight has partnered with Savings4Members to provide its members with a 20-30 percent off on GPS tracking and vehicle/video telematics solutions. Savings4Members, a division of CCA Global Partners, is an independent business savings program that partners with more than one hundred professional associations. The partnership will launch with GPS Insight fleet telematics solutions to include GPS Tracking, Driveri Protection, and Driveri Prevention.
Contact: Ana Love, for GPS Insight, (425) 647-5025, ana.love@anthonybarnum.com.
Pasternack Introduces Mil-Spec GPS/GNSS Antennas
Pasternack's new mil-spec GPS/GNSS antennas are engineered for environmental performance according to the MIL-STD-810G standard and include multi-standard GPS L1, Galileo E1 and GLONASS options, the company said.
The MIL-STD-810G GPS/GNSS antennas are IP67 rated. They are available in passive and active versions and provide coverage from 1597 MHz to 1607 MHz, the company said.
Contact: Peter McNeil, Pasternack, (978) 682-6936.
EnVue Telematics Wins Geotab Innovation Award at Connect 2023
EnVue Telematics received a Geotab Innovation Award in the Small Business Partner category at Geotab Connect 2023 in Orlando. The Innovation Awards, announced by Colin Sutherland, Geotab's chief customer officer, were given to nine partners for their innovative performance in various categories. Geotab cited EnVue Telematics for its best practices in using Geotab technology solutions to help small businesses’ fleet intelligence needs.
Contact: Fanta Doumbia, EnVue Telematics, (800) 201-1169, fantad@et-envue.com.
Beaconsmind Buys Netopsie
Beaconsmind AG [MLBMD] has acquired 100 percent of the shares of Ingenieurbüro Netopsie through its subsidiary FREDERIX Hotspot for 500,000 euros. With the acquisition of Netopsie, beaconsmind is continuing to expand its business activities in the related hotspot segment in line with its strategy, the company said. Beaconsmind outfits stores with Bluetooth beacons to locate and identify customers.
Contact: Max Weiland, beaconsmind, 41 44 380 73-73, maxweiland@beaconsmind.com, www.beaconsmind.com.
People
The 2023 Marconi Prize has been awarded to Hari Balakrishnan, the Fujitsu professor in MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). Between 1999 and 2004, he led the development of Cricket, an indoor location system. He led a group that developed the CarTel mobile sensing system by instrumenting vehicles with mobile sensors to measure road and driving conditions. In 2010, he co-founded Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) based on the findings of the CarTel project.
Sheeva.AI named Daniel Trainor as vice president of business development. He spent 13 years in strategy and business development in the automotive sector. The company also hired Riz Mappillai as vice president of software engineering. Mappillai has more than 20 years of experience as a director of technology, technical lead, and senior software developer.
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