Anti Google Maps

A screenshot of Nokia's Here Maps as it appeared on iPhones when usable via the App Store.
A screenshot of Nokia's Here Maps as it appeared on iPhones when usable via the App Store.

 

Here Maps, Nokia's map service once available only on Apple’s App Store, will soon re-debut on Samsung phones. Much attention is being paid to whether or not Nokia's Maps will become a challenger to Google Maps, helped by Samsung phones.

In an August 29 article posted on its website, IT news site TechCrunch quoted an official at Nokia, saying that Here Maps will be exclusively featured in Samsung's Android and Tizen smartphones, along with the Gear S.

Here Maps is one of Nokia's strategic businesses after the sale of its handset business to Microsoft. Here Maps is considered to be one of the best map services in the world, together with Google Maps. Although it is unfamiliar in Korea, it is easily recognizable in North America and Europe.

Samsung Electronics is scheduled to showcase the Galaxy Note 4 and the Gear S ahead of IFA 201, which will take place in Berlin on September 4. Here Maps is likely to be introduced during the launch event.

Experts are saying that Nokia signed an exclusive contract with the Korean tech giant to strategically focus on its mapping service. Samsung, on the other hand, is said to do the same so that it can differentiate its phones from other Android phones. TechCrunch said that Samsung chose Here Maps to emphasize the unique feature of its Android smartphone. The IT news site reported, “Samsung is currently the world’s most popular maker of Android-based smartphones and other devices, but it has a lot of competition coming after it, from established competitors like LG to those like Xiaomi from China cleaning up in its home market and very clearly looking at growing more.” It continued by saying, “At the same time, it’s looking for ways of driving more interest in its new wearable device.”

Meanwhile, Nokia released its new map service Here in November 2012. The Finnish company launched Here app for Apple's iOS, but it disappeared from the App Store in December 2013.

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