Uber has acquired 100 of Microsoft Bing's engineers along with other assets of the company's mapping technology, reports Reuters, as part of Microsoft's refocus away from some of its less lucrative online operations.
Many of the assets to be absorbed by Uber are related to image and data collection, with Uber hoping to improve its own maps as a result. Microsoft has also made a deal to sell its display advertising business to AOL.
In a statement, Microsoft said: "Today's news is evidence of Microsoft's increased focus on our strengths: in this case, search and search advertising and building great content and consumer services."
Financial terms of the Microsoft/Uber deal have not been disclosed, but it is thought that Uber will continue to use mapping services from Google, Apple and Baidu, as is currently the case.
In May, we reported that Uber was bidding to buy Nokia's Here mapping technology for $3 billion, amidst speculation that Uber wished to have more ownership over their customers' data.
"Uber understands that owning the customer today is about owning consumer time and data on mobile devices," Forrester Research analyst Julie Ask told IT Pro.
"The Nokia Here technology is one of, if not the most sophisticated mapping solution. It was built by a company that understands mobile phones and how consumers use them."
Previously, Uber has shown interest in developing self-driving vehicles with a research partnership between Carnegie Mellon University and the Uber Advanced Technologies Center.
The taxi app company, despite its success, has faced a constant battle with controversy. Earlier this year, for example, Uber's security policy came under fire once again after users had their Uber accounts hacked.
-
Why keeping track of AI assistants can be a tricky businessColumn Making the most of AI assistants means understanding what they can do – and what the workforce wants from them
-
Nvidia braces for a $5.5 billion hit as tariffs reach the semiconductor industryNews The chipmaker says its H20 chips need a special license as its share price plummets
-
The scariest cyber security horror stories of 2022In-depth Lapsus$ group, Log4Shell, new Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities, and the Russia-Ukraine war dominated cyber security headlines in 2022
-
Uber to offer electric vehicles to London customersNews The ride-sharing platform won't charge customers extra for using Uber Green, but journeys need to start in 'Zone 1'
-
Driverless Cars: Uber car involved in fatal crash had software flawsNews However, US investigators still haven't determined the probable cause for the accident
-
UberEats struggles to meet demand on launch dayNews Users complain of late or cancelled deliveries on service's first day
-
Google, Ford, Uber and Lyft form driverless cars coalitionNews Self- Driving Coalition for Safer Streets hopes to speed up delivery of cars on the road
-
Uber hails TfL’s move to scrap “bonkers” London cab proposalsNews TfL abandons plans to stop apps showing where the nearest taxi is
-
Uber ‘bids $3bn for Nokia mapping service’News Forrester says taxi-hailing app would own customers' mobile data
