Apple acquires GPS firm Coherent Navigation
Apple acquires GPS firm Coherent Navigation
According to reports, Apple has just acquired GPS firm Coherent Navigation for an undisclosed amount of money.
Coherent Navigation has a technology called High Integrity GPS that combines signals from the traditional mid-earth orbit GPS satellites with those from the low-earth satellites of voice and data provider Iridium to offer greater accuracy and precision. This technology can be as accurate as three to five meters.
Although Apple has had much success in recent years, its mapping services remain weak. To rectify this, the company has been trying to bolster its mapping technologies and services through numerous acquisitions. The acquisition of Coherent Navigation joins others such as Hopstop, Locationary and Placebase.
Mapping services aside, this acquisition could also be beneficial for Apple's rumored self-driving cars. A super accurate GPS system could improve a self-driving car's navigational abilities.
Source: Macrumors