While Uber is developing a strong user base across the world, that just isn't enough for the ride-sharing service, as it is now investing in a new mapping software
"Uber has submitted a bid for Here, the main competitor to Google Maps, for as much as $3 billion, according to three people with knowledge of the offer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity," The New York Times reported. Here was developed by Finnish tech giant Nokia, which planned on holding on to the service for a while until last month, when it announced that it was interested in selling the company to the right bidder.
The move follows a week after Uber revealed plans to train some of its drivers as delivery men, as well as offer new job opportunities to men and women around the world.
There are a number of companies involved in the auction process, including Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. A Chinese search engine named Baidu also plans on being involved with the development and implementation of Here's maps.
But why are so many people interested in the mapping service? Apparently, Here knows how to handle automobile mapping better than anyone else. "Nokia's mapping business holds more than an 80 percent global market share for built-in car navigation systems, and spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year to update its maps that span from New York to New Delhi," The NY Times reported.
While most companies in the bidding battle seek to benefit in some way from acquiring Here, the mapping service would be especially helpful to Uber, as owning it would help the company stop depending on Google Maps and develop its own service, as well as improve the UberPool experience.
But regardless of who acquires Here, the acquiree will likely take the service and turn it into a worthy competitor for Google Maps.
