Apple Acquires Mapping Visualization and Analytics Startup Mapsense

According to a new report from Recode, Apple has acquired San Francisco-based mapping visualization startup Mapsense. The company is able to sort through massive geotagged datasets to create quick geographical visualizations of location-based data points that can be embedded into apps.

Mapsense built a cloud-based high-speed mapping engine that can ingest and index large amounts of data with incredibly fast search and filtering. The software also provides simple visual analysis tools.

Mapsense

Apple reportedly paid between $25 and $30 million for the startup, and its entire 12-person team will join Apple. The Cupertino-based giant confirmed the acquisition to Recode with its standard statement: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

It is not clear what Apple will use the Mapsense technology for, but this is just one of many mapping companies Apple has purchased to help improve its Maps app.

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