After Hiring Google Maps Veteran, Uber Purchases Mapping Technology From Microsoft

Mobile ride hailing app company Uber is acquiring part of Microsoft Bing’s mapping technology and as part of the acquisition deal, about 100 employees of Microsoft will move to Uber, according to reports.

"We're excited about the talent and technology this acquisition brings," a PC Mag report quoted a Uber spokesman, as saying. "Mapping is at the heart of what makes Uber great. So we'll continue to work with partners, as well as invest in our own technology, to build the best possible experience for riders and drivers," the Uber spokesman explained further.

According to a Business Insider report, Uber has been working towards building its own mapping product and in order to strengthen its mapping system, it has been building its own mapping product. Uber, currently depends on Google maps for meeting its mapping requirements but with the latest acquisition, Bing’s technology would aid the company in developing its own mapping software and data.

"In keeping with these efforts, we will no longer collect mapping imagery ourselves, and instead will continue to partner with premium content and imagery providers for underlying data while concentrating our resources on the core user experience," the PC Mag report quoted Microsoft, as saying. "With this decision, we will transfer many of our imagery acquisition operations to Uber," Microsoft said further.

Last month, Re/Code reported that Uber has hired Google’s Engineering VP, Brian McClendon who would oversee the transportation network at Uber’s Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh. At Google, McClendon was responsible for the Google’s Geo products i.e. Google Maps, Google Earth and Street View, reported Business Finance News.

In April, a report on CIO said that Uber was hiring professionals to fill various job positions at its new Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh. The research center that focuses on developing self driving car technology and advanced vehicle safety and mapping systems is seeking engineers in the field of robotics, communications, machine learning, traffic simulation, vehicle testing and software and hardware development. Uber had advertised for 19 positions, most of which called for multiple workers, as per the CIO report.

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