Manufacturer will merge its mapping business with its location services operations in order to bolster offerings to customers
Nokia has created a new business unit by merging its NAVTEQ mapping business with its social location services operations in an attempt to bolster sales.
The new “Location and Commerce” business will be headed by Michael Halbherr, a Nokia employee since 2006 who most recently headed up the company’s Services business, which was based in Berlin.
Halbherr will become an executive vice president and a member of the Nokia Leadership team and will report directly to CEO Stephen Elop.
Nokia says the new business will provide “ exciting new opportunities” through the integration of Nokia community data.
The Location and Commerce business will also create integrated social location offerings in support of the manufacturer’s strategic smartphone goals, including Nokia products using the Windows Phone operating platform.
Speaking about the formation of the new business Elop said: “Focusing on location and commerce is a natural next step in Nokia’s Services journey.
“We will provide next generation social-location applications and commerce to differentiate Nokia.
“We also aim to extend our content and services offerings to all consumers by making them available to partners and customers on a wide variety of devices and operating systems.”
“Michael [Halbherr) is a widely recognized authority in the fields of mobility and social location services, and I am delighted to appoint him to lead an area of our business that will be crucial in Nokia’s transformation strategy.”
