MapmyIndia gets funding by Qualcomm

NEW DELHI, INDIA: MapmyIndia, India's leading digital maps and navigation services provider, today announced that Qualcomm Ventures has led a round of strategic investment in the company with participation from existing investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Sherpalo Ventures and Nexus India Capital.

The investment will leverage Qualcomm’s worldwide leadership in wireless technologies and MapmyIndia’s leadership in India’s digital maps, location-based services and GPS navigation, to empower the entire telecom, automotive and internet ecosystems. With the recent launch of 3G in India, and growing demand for rich data services, device manufacturers and mobile operators can go-to-market quickly today with GPS navigation and advanced location-based services on handsets and Personal Navigation Devices (PND) powered by India’s most comprehensive digital map, data and solutions from MapmyIndia.

The automotive sector can look to enhanced in-car safety and infotainment through next-generation GPS navigation and telematics products from MapmyIndia and Qualcomm. Converged devices, which marry the internet with mobility, can benefit from MapmyIndia’s server platform to deliver maps and navigation information across internet, mobile, in-car and digital TV.

Rakesh Verma, Promoter and Managing Director of MapmyIndia, said “MapmyIndia has been driven with a passion and vision to digitally map India for the last 16 years. We are proud and excited that Qualcomm has shown its belief in MapmyIndia. With this new investment and collaboration with Qualcomm, we will engage all leading players of the ecosystem – handset manufacturers, mobile operators, automotive manufacturers, hardware vendors, chipset providers, and application developers - with India’s best digital maps, GPS navigation products and location-based services.”

Commenting on the development, Kanwalinder Singh, president Qualcomm India and South Asia said, “Qualcomm is pleased to collaborate with MapmyIndia to bring the best experience for location-based services to Indian consumers. MapmyIndia’s comprehensive and accurate digital map content, combined with Qualcomm’s leadership in assisted GPS technology, will enable the most advanced and reliable location-based services with ubiquitous experience in open, indoor and complex urban environments. We see huge potential for location services in India, and look forward to working with MapmyIndia to address the demand for consumer and enterprise markets.”

Kartheepan Madasamy, senior manager of India Investments from Qualcomm Ventures, said “This is a significant development for Qualcomm Ventures in its effort to foster innovation and bring enriched wireless experience to Indian consumers. MapmyIndia has built a strong business around digital maps, Personal Navigation Devices and Internet mapping offerings in India. We look forward to working closely with MapmyIndia to bring the most advanced location services experience to India, leveraging the best map content on mobile handsets and connected navigation devices.”

Suvir Sujan, Partner, Nexus India Capital, said “We are extremely glad that Qualcomm has joined the investor group of MapmyIndia, as this validates the leadership position and potential MapmyIndia has demonstrated in the digital mapping space. Qualcomm brings the right strategic experience, expertise and reach to benefit all - MapmyIndia, the industry, and end users.”