Apple acquires C3 Technologies: could Google Maps get the boot on iOS?

Apple has been outed as the buyer of Swedish 3D mapping company C3 Technologies in an aquisition that took place this past August.

C3 creates stunning 3D maps using technology developed by the military to target missles. The official explanation of what its software is capable of can be summed up thusly:

C3 Technologies is the leading provider of 3D mapping solutions, offering photo-realistic models of the world for search, navigation and geographic information systems. Since 2007 when it was spun out of the aerospace and defense company Saab AB, venture-backed C3 has redefined mapping by applying previously classified image processing technology to the development of 3D maps as a platform for new social and commercial applications. The Sweden-based company’s automated software and advanced algorithms enable C3 to rapidly assemble extremely precise 3D models, and seamlessly integrate them with traditional 2D maps, satellite images, street level photography and user generated images, that together are forever changing how people use maps and explore the world.

The news comes from 9to5Mac who note that this is the third mapping company purchase from Apple behind a software development company called Placebase and another 3D mapping firm called Poly9.

According to VentureBeat, the deal was worth $240 million.

Clearly, it seems that Apple is preparing to cut ties with Google for its mapping services and bring the entire project in house with a powerful 3D upgrade. We imagine it will be something similar and as significant as what Apple did with Siri.

Fingers crossed that we might see the fruits of these aquisitions by iOS 6.