Earlier we wrote about Amazon ditching Google Maps in favor of its own Map tool. Many speculated that the giant ecommerce company formed a partnership with Nokia, but no one knew for sure if this was in fact the case. Now we have gotten confirmation that this is really going on. The Finnish based manufacturer told The Next Web that it’s letting the Kindle Fire maker use its “Location Platform” to power the company’s Maps API.
Amazon Maps API will allow app developers to integrate mapping functionality into their apps, much like Bing for Windows Phone or Google Maps for Android. The way this all works is Nokia’s Location Platform enables registered developers to use the company’s set of APIs to build “rich, customizable location-based mobile apps with complete functionality for Maps, Positioning, Places, Directions, and Traffic.”
Dr. Sebastian Kurme, a spokesperson for Nokia’s Communications, Location & Commerce business units, left this statement for the folks over at TNW:
Amazon is licensing the Nokia Location Platform (NLP) for maps and geocoding.
The Nokia Location Platform is the most advanced mobile location platform with a unique global footprint. It provides maps for almost 200 countries (with more than 100 of them navigable) and provides the best, automotive-grade map quality based on industry-leading technology and more than 20 years expertise in mapping.
Amongst others, it is already powering Yahoo Maps, and increasingly also powering Bing Maps as well.
Location is playing a central role in our strategy, and because of its global footprint, quality and completeness of performance (geocoding, routing, traffic) the Nokia Location Platform offers great opportunities for 3rd parties to build upon.Amazon´s decision to choose the Nokia Location Platform is further proof point that our competence in this space is a key differentiator also for other leading players in the industry to offer great location consumer experiences.
This is a big deal for Nokia Maps, as it’s now powering Yahoo Maps, Bing Maps, and now Amazon’s as well. With Apple jumping off Google Maps not too long ago, this makes this a really dark road for the search giant to navigate through.
[TNW; via WMPoweruser]