5 ms·

If Nokia has (supposedly) better map data than Google, how much money could be made by licensing that data? Alternatively, how much could be made by creating a

If Nokia has (supposedly) better map data than Google, how much money could be made by licensing that data? Alternatively, how much could be made by creating a map application for the major mobile platforms, and sell it to the consumer direct? (bundled free with Windows Phone, no doubt) Probably not as much as a licensing deal, but still no small amount.

molmalo 14y ago
According to this [1], they made € 1 Billion in 2010. You could search for updated info though. Considering that Nokia paid $ 8.1 billion for Navteq, they really need to make money with that. A few years ago, Google used licensed data from Navteq. But I don't know if that's the case anymore. Looking at the ToS in maps.google.com, there's no trace of Navteq anymore, but there's mention of them in localized versions of Google Maps. As an example: UK: http://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/help/terms_maps.html http://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/help/terms_maps.html Canada: http://www.google.com/intl/en_ca/help/terms_maps.html http://www.google.com/intl/en_ca/help/terms_maps.html Argentina: http://www.google.com/intl/es_ar/help/terms_maps.html http://www.google.com/intl/es_ar/help/terms_maps.html Navteq is still there, but maybe, it's just that they forgot to update the ToS (Lazy lawyers?). - [1] http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/NAVTEQ-1-Billion-Sales-in-2010_a2765.html http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/NAVTEQ-1-Billion-Sales-in-201...
Spearchucker 14y ago
Nokia are starting to make inroads into both the consumer [1] and enterprise space [2]. This is my personal opinion only - but I imagine this will only get bigger for them. [1] http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/18/amazon_google_map_bmrush/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/18/amazon_google_map_bm... [2]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/01/nokia_oracle_maps_deal/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/01/nokia_oracle_maps_de...
archangel_one 14y ago
> how much money could be made by licensing that data? Navteq still do license map data. But it's not as profitable as all that; IIRC they weren't breaking even when Nokia took them over. This seems fairly common in that industry; Ordnance Survey (who aren't fully commercial, but the same concept applies) are heavily supplemented by public money, for example. It's presumably even more expensive to do all the capture for Street View type data. > Alternatively, how much could be made by creating a map application for the major mobile platforms, and sell it to the consumer direct? That seems like a pretty good idea to me, although I doubt it's going to dig them out of a €1.5bn hole. Still, Nokia don't have a lot to lose at this point, although I feel like they're still in denial about their recent lack of competitiveness in smartphones.
- gman99 14y ago
  €1.5bn hole? Last I checked they had €4.2bn in the bank? http://press.nokia.com/2012/07/19/nokia-corporation-q2-2012-interim-report/ http://press.nokia.com/2012/07/19/nokia-corporation-q2-2012-... Edit: €1.3bn loss in Q1, €800ml loss last quarter. I guess that's what you meant. Still, not a "hole"... just driving straight into one :)
  - archangel_one 14y ago
    Sorry, probably not the right metaphor to use really. From the article, it suggested that division of Nokia was losing €1.5bn annually, and I don't think selling map software to mobile phone owners would make that much when there are already plenty of free (beer) alternatives.

molmalo 14y ago

According to this [1], they made € 1 Billion in 2010. You could search for updated info though. Considering that Nokia paid $ 8.1 billion for Navteq, they really need to make money with that. A few years ago, Google used licensed data from Navteq. But I don't know if that's the case anymore. Looking at the ToS in maps.google.com, there's no trace of Navteq anymore, but there's mention of them in localized versions of Google Maps. As an example: UK: http://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/help/terms_maps.html http://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/help/terms_maps.html Canada: http://www.google.com/intl/en_ca/help/terms_maps.html http://www.google.com/intl/en_ca/help/terms_maps.html Argentina: http://www.google.com/intl/es_ar/help/terms_maps.html http://www.google.com/intl/es_ar/help/terms_maps.html Navteq is still there, but maybe, it's just that they forgot to update the ToS (Lazy lawyers?). - [1] http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/NAVTEQ-1-Billion-Sales-in-2010_a2765.html http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/NAVTEQ-1-Billion-Sales-in-201...

Spearchucker 14y ago

Nokia are starting to make inroads into both the consumer [1] and enterprise space [2]. This is my personal opinion only - but I imagine this will only get bigger for them. [1] http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/18/amazon_google_map_bmrush/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/18/amazon_google_map_bm... [2]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/01/nokia_oracle_maps_deal/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/01/nokia_oracle_maps_de...

archangel_one 14y ago

> how much money could be made by licensing that data? Navteq still do license map data. But it's not as profitable as all that; IIRC they weren't breaking even when Nokia took them over. This seems fairly common in that industry; Ordnance Survey (who aren't fully commercial, but the same concept applies) are heavily supplemented by public money, for example. It's presumably even more expensive to do all the capture for Street View type data. > Alternatively, how much could be made by creating a map application for the major mobile platforms, and sell it to the consumer direct? That seems like a pretty good idea to me, although I doubt it's going to dig them out of a €1.5bn hole. Still, Nokia don't have a lot to lose at this point, although I feel like they're still in denial about their recent lack of competitiveness in smartphones.

gman99 14y ago
€1.5bn hole? Last I checked they had €4.2bn in the bank? http://press.nokia.com/2012/07/19/nokia-corporation-q2-2012-interim-report/ http://press.nokia.com/2012/07/19/nokia-corporation-q2-2012-... Edit: €1.3bn loss in Q1, €800ml loss last quarter. I guess that's what you meant. Still, not a "hole"... just driving straight into one :)
- archangel_one 14y ago
  Sorry, probably not the right metaphor to use really. From the article, it suggested that division of Nokia was losing €1.5bn annually, and I don't think selling map software to mobile phone owners would make that much when there are already plenty of free (beer) alternatives.