Here Technologies
Here Technologies is a multinational group based in The Netherlands specialized in mapping technologies, location data, and related automotive services to individuals and companies. It is majority-owned by a consortium of German automotive companies and American semiconductor company Intel whilst other companies also own minority stakes. Its roots date back to U.S.-based Navteq in 1985, which was acquired by Finland-based Nokia in 2007.
Here captures location content such as road networks, buildings, parks and traffic patterns. It then sells or licenses that mapping content, along with map related navigation and location services to other businesses such as Alpine Electronics, Garmin, BMW, Oracle Corporation and Amazon.com. This third-party licensing constitutes the core of the firm's business. The company is also working on self-driving technology.
In addition, Here provides platform services to computers and smartphones through the Here WeGo app. As of 2013 it has maps of about 200 countries, offers voice guided navigation, provides live traffic information, and has indoor maps available for about 49,000 unique buildings in 45 countries. Here provides location services through its Here applications, and also for GIS and government clients and other providers, such as Microsoft Bing, Meta Platforms, Yahoo! Maps, and the Samsung Gear S2 mapping app.
History
Here has built its mapping and location business by acquiring location technology; the company is a combination of what was formerly Navteq and Nokia Maps.Navteq
was an American company founded in 1985 as Karlin & Collins, Inc., later known as Navigation Technologies Corporation and eventually as Navteq. At the time of its acquisition by Nokia, Navteq was the largest maker of automotive-grade map data used in car navigation equipment.In October 2007, Nokia acquired Navteq for $8.1 billion. Nokia ran Navteq's business along with their own Nokia Maps. The two divisions remained as separate entities of Nokia Corporation until Navteq was amalgamated into the core Nokia operations in 2011 as part of their Location & Commerce unit. The service was rebranded as HERE in 2012, bringing together mapping, location businesses, satellite navigation and other services under one brand.
Nokia Maps
Nokia Maps began in 2001 as Smart2Go, a generic 3D-map interface for access to tourist information on mobile terminals. It was developed by an EU consortium named TellMaris. Nokia gained the rights to the software when it acquired Berlin-based route planning software company Gate 5 in August 2006, which then become the cornerstone for the company's mapping business. It then made the Smart2Go application free to download and it was rebranded to Nokia Maps. Later it expanded the suite with additional location services. The service was rebranded as HERE in 2012, bringing together mapping, location businesses, satellite navigation and other services under one brand.Acquisitions and development under Nokia
In 2008, Nokia picked up geosocial networking site Plazes and the following year it bought mobile applications developer Bit-Side, social location pioneer Plum, and social travel service Dopplr. In 2010, it acquired MetaCarta, a leading enterprise local search service used by security and military.In April 2011, Nokia released a beta version of 3D maps that covered 20 cities in the world. By August 2011, the coverage had expanded to 23 cities, and in 2012, Nokia bought EarthMine, which specializes in street level 3D image capture.
In May 2011, Ovi Maps was renamed to Nokia Maps when Nokia streamlined its services offering.
In October 2011, Maps & Drive for Windows Phone 7 was announced, which was available on Nokia Lumia phones. However, major features such as off-line routing and text-to-speech navigation of street names, compared to the Symbian version, were absent. These features were eventually brought over to the Windows Phone platform in 2012.
Rebranding to HERE
On 13 November 2012, Nokia announced that it would rebrand its location offering as HERE to highlight its vision for the future of location-based services and its belief in the importance of mapping.In June 2014, Here announced that it had acquired Medio, a Seattle-based start-up that specialized in predictive analytics.
In 2014, Windows Phone's low market share, as well as the end of Nokia's partnership with Microsoft, led to the company prioritizing Android and iOS development.
Here launched the HERE beta app for Samsung Galaxy smartphones in August 2014. Later in October the app became available on all Android devices running on 4.1 Jelly Bean or higher.
The HERE app was re-launched for iOS 8 platform on 11 March 2015.
German car makers' ownership
On 3 August 2015, Here was sold to a consortium of German car makers Audi, BMW, and Daimler AG. On 4 December 2015, the consortium completed the acquisition for €2.8 billion. As of December 2015 the company had 6,500 employees.In December 2016, Navinfo, Tencent and GIC Private Limited agreed to buy a 10% stake in Here. But in September 2017, the offer of the three companies failed, as US authorities did not authorize the transaction.
In January 2017, it was reported that Intel was taking a 15% stake in the firm. In September 2017, HERE and Pioneer Corporation reached an agreement in which HERE would acquire approximately 3% of Pioneer's stock at a value of €17.3 million. In parallel, at the same cost, Pioneer would acquire less than 1% of Here.
In January 2018, Continental and Bosch acquired a 5% stake in HERE.
In December 2019, Mitsubishi Corporation and NTT of Japan acquired a 30% stake in HERE. Upon completion of the transaction, HERE had nine direct and indirect shareholders: Audi, Bosch, BMW Group, Continental, Intel Capital, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mercedes-Benz, NTT and Pioneer.
In November 2017, Here announced it would acquire Advanced Telematic Systems for an undisclosed amount.
In January 2018, Here announced it would acquire indoor mapping company Micello for an undisclosed amount.
Current ownership
The German consortium of Audi, BMW and Daimler initially held a 44% stake in the company.- Mitsubishi and NTT
- Intel
- Bosch
- Continental
- Pioneer
Automotive services
HERE Auto
The 2016 Jaguar Cars XF and XJ models incorporate HERE map technology drive guidance in their in-car infotainment systems. All of the features of the HERE suite are available to the driver, including maps, navigation, and social sharing using Glympse. Another feature of HERE Auto is the ability to plan the journey from the Android or iOS app before entering the car. Country and region maps are also able to be downloaded directly to the flash-based storage of the HERE Auto system itself, much like the ability to store offline maps on devices using the Android/iOS HERE apps.HERE MapCare
HERE MapCare was first implemented with Volvo vehicles in 2009 and has since spread to at least 23 other manufacturers utilizing HERE maps data in their infotainment systems. HERE map data is updated for a period of around three years from the date of purchase of the vehicle and is performed at the time of service from the car dealer. There is also the option of updating maps data via USB memory stick or memory card.Here and other car manufacturers / mapping companies
HERE maps data and technologies are also integrated into the technologies of other car companies:- Garmin has been using HERE for its mapping system since the days it was branded as Navteq. With its recent models of Garmin GPS navigation units, HERE has facilitated and used DAB to broadcast live traffic information for free to users. This is done through the power cable of the GPS unit acting as an antenna, and provides enough data with low latency, allowing data to be updated in very fast intervals and without having to resort to using SIM cards and paying for mobile data plans.
- MyFord Mobile from the Ford Motor Company has its location services powered by HERE mapping data, allowing users to find their parked cars remotely from the relevant iOS or Android app. Routes for driving are also able to be planned on the phone itself and sent to the car ready to be enacted. Charging station locations for electric vehicles already inherent in the HERE mapping database are also included in the calculation of routes to be driven.
- Mercedes-Benz adopted HERE HD Live Map in its technology Drive Pilot, an SAE International level 3 of levels of driving automation as announced in 2021.
- BMW adopted HERE HD Live Map in its technology Personal Pilot, an SAE International level 3 of levels of driving automation as announced in 2023.
New technologies
Here also conducts work on various new technologies to improve traffic, mapping and the experience of driving. Listed below are recent prominent examples of these:In August 2015, Here introduced a new traffic-jam warning system called Traffic Safety Warning. The system works in alerting the driver with a suitable time period to react to the fact that there is a traffic jam up ahead. Data is updated every minute and is yet another way in which data collected is used to the benefit and safety of drivers.
In June 2015, Here published an interface specification named the Sensor Ingestion Interface Specification. This standard defines how sensor data gathered by vehicles on the road can be sent to the cloud to update maps on the fly. The premise of the technology is to allow for the collection of data to alert other cars on the road to traffic obstacles or accidents in the vicinity. HERE has called for leading car manufacturers from across the world to promote its specification and call for a standardized data format, thereby leading to all consumers receiving the same traffic data reporting.
Here also works in the field of automated vehicles, with the recent provision of its high-definition map data for manufacturers in testing their vehicles. The highly accurate mapped data of private test tracks provides these cars with a highly accurate navigation system to complement data collected from on-board sensors. Much like existing map data is collected for consumer driving, the same LiDAR technology is used to map these private test tracks along with the roads that are used for public testing. HD Map data is also highly accurate, with accuracy to a level of 10 to 20 centimeters, and the collection of lane geometry is also part of the data collection task. Here makes approximately 2.7 million changes to its global map database every day.
Also part of the field of autonomous vehicles and automated driving is the Live Roads technology. HERE is currently developing a technology that will be able to alert drivers of conditions such as weather to alert other drivers of possible hazards, or to avoid a particular area whilst driving. An example is the aggregation of data from windshield wipers and slipping tires to notify other drivers to avoid an ice-filled area. The company is also investigating Humanized Driving where data is collected on driving habits on roads, and provisioning this data to allow automated cars to follow how drivers behave when driving on certain roads.
Here has also worked with in developing new technologies for intelligent speed guidance. Through the smart provision of traffic lights and management, traffic congestion and vehicle efficiency will be able to be improved.