[DuexNoir]

Apple Inc. may bid for TomTom: analyst | Investing | Financial Post

Thought I post this because BB10 will also use TomTom. Nokia bought Scalado (which probably blocks future RIM development with that company on camera) and now if Apple buys TomTom...where will BB maps go in the future?

These big takeovers may dangerously narrow RIM's choices of partners for future developments.

[dentynefire]

right now it would only make sense for RIM to buy them because QNX is the leader for vehicle infotainment. You don't sell to a nobody you sell to the leader.

[wriggley monkey]

You might also sell to the person who offers you the highest price.

[lnichols]

Luckily they have a licensing agreement that Apple would have to honor, just like Nokia has to honor the agreement between RIM and Scalado. However their are only three major mapping databases: Nokia, TomTom and Google. Consolidation of resources like this threatens smaller companies like RIM, as well as the consumer.

[DuexNoir]

right now it would only make sense for RIM to buy them because QNX is the leader for vehicle infotainment. You don't sell to a nobody you sell to the leader.

Unfortunately, RIM can't afford to buy them at the moment, and Apple is hardly a nobody right now, despite the major iMap flaw. But Apple buying TomTom is really a waste, since you are right that RIM with QNX will make more out of TomTom database than Apple, in my opinion.

Luckily they have a licensing agreement that Apple would have to honor, just like Nokia has to honor the agreement between RIM and Scalado. However their are only three major mapping databases: Nokia, TomTom and Google. Consolidation of resources like this threatens smaller companies like RIM, as well as the consumer.

True but I mean about the future when the licensing agreement expires or new development beyond the current agreement. You are right that this will greatly limit RIM's movement, at least for the near future unless a better start-up comes along (which most often happens but for mapping data, that may take quite some time).

[houshinto#IM]

Interesting. Well Apple does have the $ to buy Tom Tom I'm sure. And this would fit the M.O. of Apple these days: Cheat, Steal, Misinform, Block, & Sue your competition.

Yeah, Yeah, it's how business is done nowadays.....

[silversun10]

not likely really since Google and Apple cooperate on maps:
Review: Google Maps puts Apple Maps to shame - CNN.com

[SparkyBC]

Slap a Garmin on the windshield done deal.

[Bobcat665]

Slap a Garmin on the windshield done deal.

Man, I hope that a takeover of TomTom doesn't actually happen.
IF somehow it actually DOES come to be, I hope that Garmin will, indeed, be willing to play ball with RIM when the current license with TT does run out...

[lnichols]

Man, I hope that a takeover of TomTom doesn't actually happen.
IF somehow it actually DOES come to be, I hope that Garmin will, indeed, be willing to play ball with RIM when the current license with TT does run out...

Garmin gets their map data from Nokia!

[Bobcat665]

Garmin gets their map data from Nokia!

You've gotta be kidding me!

[kfh227]

I use a dedicted GPS device. Quite frankly it has a good mount in a good location for a car already. They are super cheap these days. And it is way easier to use than what my Android has on it for free. I refuse to buy an app so if there is a better one out there, to bad, I don't know about it and I don't care.

[howarmat]

I use a dedicted GPS device. Quite frankly it has a good mount in a good location for a car already. They are super cheap these days. And it is way easier to use than what my Android has on it for free. I refuse to buy an app so if there is a better one out there, to bad, I don't know about it and I don't care.

google maps is hard to use?

[anjali_jain]

Wild assumption. Sure Apple could buy them and both might get advantage, but just because it makes sense from the outside, it doesn't necessarily mean it makes sense from the other side of the curtain. Let's see !