Navteq and Microsoft have announced an agreement through which Navteq will provide Microsoft with 3D map data and visuals to power its Bing Maps.While Navteq and Microsoft have been working together for the past ten years, this new relationship will help advance important 3D collection technologies that, when integrated into Navteq’s broader proprietary data collection process, will support the capture of a range of advanced navigable map features at an exceptional level of accuracy and scale.
Navteq will be integrating these new technologies into its field collection vehicles, and the company’s full roster of customers will be able to benefit from this technology deployment.
This will accelerate not only the efficient integration of 3D visuals into the Navteq map, but also new product development that will reap benefits across the full range of Navteq’s product portfolio. Microsoft will then be able to deploy the visuals to their consumers via Bing Maps.
Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of MSN, Erik Jorgensen, said, “Microsoft is extremely enthusiastic about this new chapter in its relationship with Navteq and is focused on bringing the mapping experience alive for our consumers, using street level visuals powered by Navteq.”
“The opportunity to work more closely with Navteq and leverage our respective technological strengths for the overall advancement of this type of data collection is a true ‘win- win’ for both companies, and for consumers,” added Jorgensen.
Navteq Maps’ Executive Vice President, Cliff Fox, “Navteq continues to believe that the quality of data collection, which provides the building blocks for the underlying digital map in any navigation or location-enabled device, is paramount to a superior user experience. Microsoft shares this view, and openly welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Navteq in new ways to accelerate the development of technologies which we believe are crucial to the growing expectations of consumers using Navteq maps.”
