Apple Appears To Have Hired Two Top Map Software Executives
October 01 2009 - 3:16PM
Dow Jones News
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.)