Mail.Ru has acquired Swiss-Belarusian startup MapsWithMe, the company behind the popular MAPS.ME mobile maps and navigation service.
MAPS.ME offers apps for iOS and Android that allow users to download detailed OpenStreetMap-sources maps for any location around the world and use them even when offline.
That's not such a difficult thing to pull off, all things considered, but MAPS.ME says its proprietary data compression algorithm makes for fast and lightweight maps. This seems to strike a chord with people: the apps have been downloaded by more than 7 million users since its release in 2011.
Mail.Ru, until further notice still one of the largest Internet companies in Europe, says the acquisition will enable its internationally-focused subsidiary My.com to expand its range of products and services.
The MAPS.ME team (including the founders) will join Mail.Ru where the team will continue to work on the service. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed but a Reuters source says the deal was worth "more than $10 million".
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