Intel’s chips are finally going to start showing up in phones next year and Ultrabooks are due soon, but it looks like the world’s top chip maker’s making a push in software, too. Intel just bought Isreal-based mapping software company Telmap for $US300-$US350 million.
The impetus behind the deal is to create a “true alternative” to Google Maps and Nokia’s Ovi. But more to the point, it’s a huge and telling step for Intel, which has increasingly been expanding its purview outside of pure chip-making. Intel’s AppUp blog notes that Telmap will help supply AppUp developers with a standard set of location-based APIs and software to make location services easier to add to their apps.
Telmap’s services include mapping and navigation, location-based advertising and social integration. Also included are ultra-local services like realtime traffic updates and event guides.
Intel expects the deal to close before the end of the year.
[New York Times, Telmap, Intel]