Apple negotiating with FourSquare for local check-in data
updated 12:53 am EST, Tue December 18, 2012
Move expected to bolster Maps, potentially Siri as well
According to sources familiar with the matter, Apple is in early discussions to integrate local information culled by Foursquare Labs in future offerings for the iOS and OS X. The talks, led by Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue, are being run in parallel with discussions at other companies that collect local data to improve what is viewed as a flawed initial offering of Apple's own map and navigation application.
Apple is already using data collected by Yelp, Waze, and other smaller providers for its venue listings and reviews. Apple said over the summer that it has more than 100 million listed businesses around the world, a higher total than Google's Maps. Speculation about a deal between Foursquare and Apple was renewed last week after some rumors in 2010 after Cue posted a check-in on Twitter.
Earlier today, Foursquare announced updated venue pages to the iOS version of its app, and have added "highlights" to the venue information, aimed at "customizing a venue page for the before and after check-in experience."
The talks by Cue are among the first he has undertaken to improve the service since Scott Forstall was forced out in part for mishandling the Maps rollout. Cue absorbed responsibility for improving Apple's maps application, as well as responsibility for other offerings such as the iTunes store, the App Store, and the iBookstore.
