Amazon.com's new Kindle Fire will have mapping services via a tie-up with Nokia Oyj, sources claim, filling a gap in the tablet's capabilities while snubbing Google's popular service.
The world's largest internet retailer, which says its nine-month old Kindle Fire now accounts for one in five US tablet sales, has teamed up with Nokia on mapping, the two people told Reuters.
Amazon will release at least one new version of the Kindle Fire next Thursday.
Amazon will also add location capabilities to the new Kindle Fire, which requires either a GPS chip or a process known as WiFi triangulation, the sources added.
Mapping services, which are popular features on tablets, typically include street maps, information about local businesses and sometimes traffic status. They can also support navigation instructions and third-party applications that depend on location information, such as travel services.
Location capabilities mark the location of tablet and smart phone users.
Google's Nexus 7 tablet, which competes directly with the Kindle Fire, comes with GPS receiver chips to support location and mapping functions.
The first Kindle Fire launched last year and at $199 costs half the price of the entry-level Apple iPad, helping it rapidly gain consumer acceptance. On Thursday, Amazon said its Kindle Fires had completely sold out.
Analysts say the 7-inch device helps drive sales of digital media such as ebooks and music, which in turn propels core retail growth for the company.
Amazon may unveil larger versions of the Fire on Thursday in Los Angeles, analysts and media say, which will compete more directly with the iPad.
Although the Kindle now runs on an early version of Google's Android, which Amazon developed into its own operating system, it does not integrate Google Maps into the device. That means users had to access Google Maps via a Web browser, or download map apps from third-party developers.
A Nokia spokesman declined to comment and an Amazon spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment.
-
Should AI PCs be part of your next hardware refresh?AI PCs are fast becoming a business staple and a surefire way to future-proof your business
-
Westcon-Comstor and Vectra AI launch brace of new channel initiativesNews Westcon-Comstor and Vectra AI have announced the launch of two new channel growth initiatives focused on the managed security service provider (MSSP) space and AWS Marketplace.
-
Nokia hails success of Europe’s first commercial 5G cloud RAN deploymentNews Elise says its 5G cloud network puts it in a strong position during a move towards 6G
-
Kyndryl and Nokia extend partnership to drive data center networking gainsNews The companies plan to offer more data center networking options aimed at enterprise customers
-
Dell and Nokia expand strategic partnership to drive network cloud transformationNews The companies will leverage each other’s expertise and distribution to scale telecom networks and private 5G use cases
-
Nokia and Google score breakthrough in Android 13 network slicingNews Nokia's solution will allow devices to connect to multiple network slices simultaneously, provided by existing 4G and 5G operators
-
Nokia wins Indosat contract to expand 5G across IndonesiaNews The deal will bring next-gen communication technology to customers across a 1.4 million square kilometre area
-
Nokia and Ligado partner on 4G, 5G enterprise private networkNews Nokia will leverage Ligado’s Band 24 spectrum to reach the US enterprise market
-
The IT Pro Products of the Year 2021: The year’s best hardware and softwareBest Our pick of the best products from the past 12 months
-
Nokia T20 review: A simple, sturdy Android tablet at an SMB-friendly priceReviews It’s not as luxurious as an iPad, but the T20 makes a fine, functional tablet for business
