indoor mapping

Five 'indoor mapping' stories October 2014 - November 2015

Apple has a hidden ‘indoor GPS’ app in the App Store, for Apple Maps Connect [Updated]

Ben Lovejoy Nov 2 2015 - 4:14 am PT

Apple has an Indoor Survey app on the iOS App Store, designed to help pinpoint locations inside a store, restaurant or other business – but it doesn’t show up in a search, and you need to register in Apple Maps Connect to download it.

By dropping “points” on a map within the Survey App, you indicate your position within the venue as you walk through. As you do so, the indoor Survey App measures the radio frequency (RF) signal data and combines it with an iPhone’s sensor data. The end result is indoor positioning without the need to install special hardware …

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Apple readies Transit subway, train + bus guides for iOS 9 Maps, deploys robots for indoor mapping

Mark Gurman May 21 2015 - 7:38 am PT

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Having originally planned to add a new transit directions feature to Maps last year, only to pull the feature before WWDC 2014, Apple now hopes to launch its Transit service with iOS 9, according to sources. Apple currently plans to debut bus, subway, and train route navigation as the central upgrade to the Maps app in iOS 9 at WWDC, using a user interface similar to the one intended for last fall’s launch, as depicted in the screenshots above…

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Apple Maps Connect expands to Italy, Switzerland & Mexico

Mark Gurman Mar 30 2015 - 9:53 am PT

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Apple this week has begun rolling out its Apple Maps Connect feature to a trio of new countries: Italy, Switzerland, and Mexico. Apple Maps Connect allows business owners to alter their business listing on Apple Maps for OS X and iOS as well as add their businesses to the platform. The additions are noted on the portal, while Apple has also begun emailing users. Business listing updates can take about a week. Apple first launched the service in the U.S. last October, expanded it to the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Singapore in January, and brought it to Canada, France & Germany in February. The same online portal allows businesses with over 1 million annual visitors to apply for Apple’s indoor mapping technology.

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Apple Maps Connect for small businesses expands beyond the U.S.

Mark Gurman Jan 26 2015 - 11:58 am PT

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Apple has notified Apple Maps Connect for Small Businesses users that the service has expanded beyond the United States into the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Singapore. As we detailed in October of last year, Apple Maps Connect is a web-based tool for businesses to either add or edit their listings to the Apple Maps database. The site is also used to bolster Apple’s indoor mapping data for future iOS Maps features. Thanks, Matt!

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Apple launches new service allowing local businesses to get listed on Apple Maps, solicits indoor mapping partners

Mike Beasley Oct 21 2014 - 5:25 pm PT

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Apple has launched a new web service called Maps Connect that allows small business owners to manage their listings on Apple Maps along with a tool for setting up indoor positioning in select areas. Companies can enter their own listings and verify via a phone call or email address.

The iBeacon-powered indoor mapping tool allows businesses to setup interior views of their businesses on Apple Maps to help guide users through their venues. This tool is currently limited only to locations that meet specific criteria, such as Wi-Fi throughout the building and at least 1 million visitors per year.

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