If the glove fits: Samsung looks to rival Nokia for mobile map data

Samsung has announced today that it will be using massive competitor Nokia for map data. The deal is reported to be for Samsungs Omnia HD smartphone. The device, which was announced at MWC and should see a European release in May, will have location-based services built in around directions and social networking. To get all of the map data for these services, Samsung struck a deal with Navteq - a wholly owned subsidiary of Nokia since last year!

Navteq was scooped up by Nokia last year for around 8 billion dollars - a purchase that must be looking pretty good to Nokia around now. Mapping functions on the Omnia HD will include discovery, directions and being able to find social networking friends on a world map.

From the release:

Samsung’s Vice President of Research and Development Planning and Partnership, Wonsik Lee said, “By providing end users with intuitive, unrivaled mobile experience based on state-of-the-art technology, Samsung has remained as one of the leaders in mobile industry. This agreement with NAVTEQ will enable us to continually provide users with the most powerful mobile experience possible.”

Source: Unwired View

What we think?

This is generally being painted as something of a humiliation for Samsung… I wouldn’t look at it that way. Navteq are widely regarded as having the best digital maps available. It’s pretty gutsy of Samsung to go with the best, even if it belongs to a major competitor.