Four well-known companies have teamed up to defy Google Maps.
The companies are Meta, Microsoft, AWS and TomTom. Together they founded the Overture Maps Foundation to commercialize interoperable open map data. With the exception of Meta, these are also companies that are active in the field of autonomous driving.
Together they want to compete with Google as the top dog. The OMF is officially hosted by the Linux Foundation, but operated by the four companies. Everyone brings their data with them and new map features are developed together, which should be interesting for many purposes.
Against the background of growing digitization and the IoT (Internet of Things), there are many possible applications for map material – not least autonomous driving. The monopoly of Google stunts development, say the companies, and it has a financial impact in the form of royalties.
As far as meta goes, cards are said to be relevant to the metaverse as well. Immersive experiences that take place in a real environment are crucial to the Metaverse. But the smartphone industry will also want to free itself from Google’s grip. There seems to be a new trend, as evidenced by Mastodon in Fediverse, that the internet is becoming decentralized.
TomTom has long wanted to develop new features, but the Dutch company has not yet managed to step out of Google’s shadow. The data for the map material should also come from countless open sources and be cast in a format that fits many applications. Data from Open Street Map should also be included.
The group is also open to other partners. A first release is planned for summer 2023.