<P> Speculation around Apple creating a mapping service of its own arose in 2009 after computer magazine Computerworld reported that Apple had acquired the company Placebase , an online mapping service , in July of that year . Since then , the CEO of Placebase became a part of Apple 's `` Geo Team '' . In the following two years , Apple acquired two more mapping related companies who specialized in 3D maps : Poly9 in 2010 and C3 Technologies in 2011 . C3 Technologies ' imagery was later used for the Flyovers feature in Apple Maps . Earlier in 2011 , Apple indicated its plan for a mapping service when it stated on its website that it was collecting location data to create `` an improved traffic service in the next couple of years '' for iPhone users . In September 2012 , when Apple Maps was released , a source connected to both Google and Apple Maps claimed to technology website TechCrunch that Apple was recruiting Google employees that worked on Google Maps . </P>
<P> Speculation around Apple creating a mapping service of its own arose in 2009 after computer magazine Computerworld reported that Apple had acquired the company Placebase , an online mapping service , in July of that year . Since then , the CEO of Placebase became a part of Apple 's `` Geo Team '' . In the following two years , Apple acquired two more mapping related companies who specialized in 3D maps : Poly9 in 2010 and C3 Technologies in 2011 . C3 Technologies ' imagery was later used for the Flyovers feature in Apple Maps . Earlier in 2011 , Apple indicated its plan for a mapping service when it stated on its website that it was collecting location data to create `` an improved traffic service in the next couple of years '' for iPhone users . In September 2012 , when Apple Maps was released , a source connected to both Google and Apple Maps claimed to technology website TechCrunch that Apple was recruiting Google employees that worked on Google Maps . </P>
where does apple maps traffic data come from
where does apple maps traffic data come from
Placebase , an online mapping service
Placebase , an online mapping service