
Europe
: Nokia announced that it has completed its acquisition of gate5 AG,
a leading supplier of mapping, routing and navigation software and
services. Above shows Navigation Mode on Nokia N95.
The acquisition of gate5 is an important step in developing the new
product category of multimedia computers that offer people multiple
ways to connect to information, entertainment and other people. In
the end of September, Nokia introduced the Nokia N95 multimedia computer
with integrated GPS and navigation functionality. The Nokia N95 maps
and navigation application is based on the gate5 software platform.
"We see that location based experiences, such as search, mapping
and navigation will be a fundamental platform for many applications
in Nokia Nseries devices going forward." said Anssi Vanjoki,
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Multimedia, Nokia. "Nokia's
strategy in this space is to offer world-leading location based experiences
as an integrated offering to our customers. I'm excited to see the
new team to bring exciting and easy-to-use location based applications
into the upcoming Nokia Nseries multimedia computers and into many
other Nokia products".
With the completion of this acquisition, gate5 now enhances the Multimedia
Business Group's organization as a center of competency for location
based experiences in Berlin, Germany. The gate5 team continues to
be dedicated to delivering world class solutions to third party customers
in the PND (Personal Navigation Device) and mobile devices space.
It will maintain its multi-platform strategy for mobile devices, including
the support of Symbian, Linux, Windows Mobile, and Palm platforms.
Together with the closing of the transaction, Nokia also announced
that with immediate effect it has established a sales unit for its
Location Based Software and Services in Hong Kong, targeting its PND
customers in the Asia-Pacific region.