Thread: Vodafone buys Wayfinder
View Single Post
allnameswereout's Avatar
allnameswereout is offline allnameswereout
2009-01-28 , 17:26
Posts: 3,397 | Thanked: 1,212 times | Joined on Jul 2008 @ Netherlands
#15
Originally Posted by pixelseventy2 View Post
Looks like it's all gone through now - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01...one_wayfinder/ How likely are Vodafone to want to support a non-phone platform?
Depends on why Vodafone bought Wayfinder in the first place.

Don't forget Wayfinder bought Navicore in the past.

So there is a niche product due to an acquisition by an acquisition.

Basic route finding is hard to sell with Google giving away Google Maps Mobile, but Wayfinder is promoted (1) on the basis of turn-by-turn directions, along (2) with a database of more than 3m points of interest and (3) some online collaboration tools so you can share your route with friends and family.
(Numbers & emphasis by me.)

These are the 3 arguments according to The Register.

Points of interest are all very well, but it's not useful to know where the nearest chemist is unless you also know if it's open - information which Wayfinder reckons it can provide, and Vodafone probably feels it can charge for, one way or another.
POI Google Maps has too, with information such as opening times. Its free.

One can also import and export POI from/to other devices such as TomTom, Garmin, and Google Maps.

Vodafone can give this service to their current customers for free. I don't think theres much money for them in this case.

And ofcourse they're not happy to support a legacy, niche product. Maybe if the new tablets are going to be less a niche product...
__________________
Goosfraba! All text written by allnameswereout is public domain unless stated otherwise. Thank you for sharing your output!