Geoloqi, a location-based platform that helps developers add location-based features to their apps, has been acquired by Esri. The two companies will soon launch an alterhative mapping library for iOS that provides access to high-quality mapping tiles.
It’s difficult to ignore the recent Apple Maps faux pas in playing some role in the acquisition, but no mention of it has been made.
Geoloqi was founded in 2010, and has amassed around 1,000 developers that use its products. The service will remain uninterrupted after the acquisition.
“We are excited to have the team at Geoloqi and its technology become part of the Esri family,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri’s president in a statement. “Geoloqi’s capabilities and relationships with the developer community will build on Esri’s already impressive suite of ArcGIS products to create more dynamic mobile and web applications.”
The ArcGIS iOS SDK, says Esri, will provide developers “with an alternative to MapKit, the default mapping library on iOS. The ArcGIS SDK provides access to high quality map tiles in a programming interface similar to MapKit.”
According to Geoloqi co-founder and CEO Amber Case, the two companies’ tools and platforms “are very complementary.” Geoloqi will now become Esri’s R&D Center in Portland. The R&D Center, the companies’ noted in today’s announcement, will be focused on developing new tools and features to “create improved, integrated products that accentuate the strength of a combined platform.”
There is no word on if the service is offered outside of the US.
