Apple Buys Indoor Mapping Startup WifiSLAM

As a part of a larger effort to improve and grow its mapping services, Apple has acquired mobile location startup WifiSLAM.

According to the Wall Street Journal, sources familiar with the deal say the sale price was about $20 million

The move signals another step Apple is taking to improve its Maps presence, which was widely criticized when it replaced Google's existing Maps app in September. Apple Maps earned a reputation for omitting transit directions, giving poor navigation and displaying incomplete 3D views that distort national monuments.

Now, with the acquisition of the two-year-old WifiSLAM, Apple will likely offer indoor GPS mapping of businesses such as office buildings, sports venues and retail locations. This will allow Apple to compete more effectively with Google, which already offers indoor mapping capabilities