Apple Gets Hold of Online Transit Service HopStop to Improve its Maps App

By: Jeff Stewart  |   July 25th, 2013   |   Apple, Business, Google, iOS, News, Smartphones

Although, Google Maps 2.0 is now available to iOS device users, Apple has not given up on its very own Maps App service yet as the Cupertino-based company is still looking to improve its in-house service. Therefore, in a bid to improve its Maps app, Apple has now got hold of an online transit service called HopStop. Bloomberg was the first to report the breaking news on Friday, July 19th. HopStop is a New York-based service that has developed an iPhone app, which the company describes as:

 

“HopStop is the only transit app you’ll ever need! Get detailed subway, bus, train, taxi, walking and biking directions, real-time transit information via “HopStop Live!”, as well as official transit maps, nearby station search, and station-to-station schedules in over 600 cities throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.”

 

“In addition, you’ll benefit from our latest feature, HopStop Live!, which lets you see what other HopStop users are saying, in real-time, about the stations, trains, lines and buses you use most. HopStop Live! empowers our community of millions of transit riders to work together towards a common goal to get everyone to where they need to go, faster.”

 

HopStop’s iPhone application works in various cities of Canada, which are as:

 

Edmonton

 

Calgary

 

Hamilton

 

Kitchener-Waterloo

 

Halifax

 

London

 

Ottawa

 

Montreal

 

Quebec City

 

Sault Ste. Marie

 

Saskatoon

 

St. John’s

 

Toronto / Brampton

 

Thunder Bay

 

Vancouver

 

Winnipeg

 

Victoria

 

When the acquisition news was first reported, AllThingsD got in touch with Apple in order to confirm the news. Apple did comfirm the news, but the company did not describe any other details regarding the acquisition. Here is what Apple’s spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said while confirming about the acquisition of HopStop:

“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

 

So it remains to be seen how Apple will incorporate HopStop features in the future editions of its Maps app for iOS and OS X devices. However, HopStop was not the only acquisition that Apple has made to enhance its depriving location spotting app, as earlier on July 19th, California-based techgiant acquired a Toronto-based location data startup called Locationary.

 

These latest acquisitions clearly shows that the launch of Google Maps 2.0 for iOS devices has created a lot of pressure  on Apple to improve its Maps up quickly and make it available as soon as possible. Earlier, Apple discarded Google Maps in order to release its Maps app, but unfortunately things did not work the way iOS device maker had planned. So after receiving criticism it has decided to realign its Maps app service.

 

Source: iPhoneinCanada