Along with Passif Semiconductor, Locationary and HopStop, here comes another acquisition made by Apple. TechCrunch reported that the iPad maker has purchased yet another transit mapping application that is somehow similar to its formerly acquired HopStop-- Embark.
A Silicon Valley-based start-up, Embark, builds applications for a variety of cities to present information about stops and routes. Its features are different from Hopstop’s. The app’s approach was to widen out its transit app, providing one for each of its markets that includes major places or cities in the U.S. HopStop, on the other hand, provides walking, biking and taxi directions on top of the mass transit maps and routes.
When Apple has decided to remove transit directions included in its iOS with the release of iOS 6, Embark benefited a lot. Just a few weeks after the launch, Embark saw a hundred of thousand downloads, which represents a massive growth. Since Embark appears as a top suggested app when users search for transit mapping, Apple’s Maps application directed much of that in mint condition traffic to Embark.
Embarks victory followed Apple’s step to get rid of Google Maps which has contributed to the decision for its acquisition. Apple seemed to be planning on bringing back transit directions to its Maps app.
David Hodge, Embark’s founder, said that obtaining good transit mapping results depends on focusing on one place at a time.
He also added in an interview with TechCrunch that Google’s transit directions with Apple before worked “pretty well,” however it was not the best in any place. Embark, on the other hand, offers approaches taken by Embark would end up proffering better directions regardless of the absence of Google in the platform. Its cautious, tuned approach accompanied by things like route planning offline resulted to its more tempting visage to actual travelers.
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