Apple Inc. (AAPL) appears to have hired two top executives from Los Angeles-based Placebase Inc., a move that has raised speculation the consumer electronics giant has bought the small mapping software company to distance itself from partner Google Inc. (GOOG).

Jaron Waldman, formerly Placebase chief executive, appears to have begun working for Apple as part of the company's "Geo Team." Moran Ben-David, Placebase's former chief technology officer, also seems to have joined Apple as an "engineering manager."

The presence of the two executives at Apple, which coincides with a stripped-down look to Placebase's Web site, has given rise to speculation Apple has purchased the small company, which made products that layer social and commercial data onto traditional maps. Placebase called the technology Pushpin.

Speculation about a sale of Placebase was first raised on a Computerworld blog.

Ben-David, reached at Apple's headquarters, directed a question inquiring about a sale of Placebase to Apple's public relations team. A person at Apple named Jaron Waldman didn't return a phone call seeking comment. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined to comment.

The presence of the two executives at Apple suggests the Cupertino, Calif.-company is moving to acquire technology that would free it from its partnership with Mountain View, Calif.-based Google, which currently provides Apple with mapping software for the popular iPhone series of smartphones.

A Google spokesman declined comment.

In mid-afternoon trading, Apple shares were down 1.4% at $182.61, while Google was off 1.3% at $488.95.

-By Ben Charny, Dow Jones Newswires; 415-765-8230; ben.charny@dowjones.com

(Scott Morrison contributed to this report.)