Slashgeo

The Cartography blog links to a Mercury News article where we learn MapQuest will stop printing paper maps and concentrated on digital presence. From the article: "MapQuest's core business is its online mapping Web site, which gives users driving directions. Though MapQuest is still the leader in the online mapping industry, it has faced growing competition recently from Yahoo and Google. MapQuest attracted more than 52 million unique visitors in August, more than double the number of visitors to No. 2 Google Maps, according to comScore Media Metrix."

As a followup on previous announcement of the end of paper maps for Canadians, we learn today that "[...] the decision to close the Canada Map Office as of next year has been reversed by the NRCan Minister." Update: 10/12 15:12 GMT by S :The Map Room blog offers much more information, including a CBC.ca news report: "But Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn announced Wednesday that the Conservative government has yanked that plan off its course, and the map office will remain open. Kathleen Olson, a spokeswoman for Lunn, said Natural Resources Canada received a flood of letters protesting the planned closure. [...] She said paper maps are vital to many people, including researchers, emergency services personnel and outdoor enthusiasts."

ixcer writes "A joint press release announces that TomTom, the world’s largest navigation solution provider, will acquire Tele Atlas, the biggest data provider for navigation systems, including Google, Yahoo!, AOL and Nokia. The announcement starts this way... "TomTom N.V. (“TomTom”) and Tele Atlas N.V. (“Tele Atlas” or the “Company”), jointly announce that the expectation is justified that an agreement can be reached in connection with a public offer by TomTom for all outstanding shares of Tele Atlas at an offer price of € 21.25 in cash, (the “Offer Price”) per ordinary share (the “Offer”).

The Supervisory Board and the Management Board of Tele Atlas (the “Boards”), after having duly considered the strategic, financial and social aspects of the proposed transaction, support the intended Offer and conclude that the Offer is in the best interests of the shareholders and all other stakeholders of Tele Atlas. The Boards of Tele Atlas will, when the Offer is made by TomTom, recommend acceptance of the Offer by the shareholders of Tele Atlas."" Update: 07/23 17:41 GMT by S : All Points Blogs provides more links such as the Reuters article.

CNet News is running an article currently about a new digital pen. While the concept isn't new, it claims to have ties for workers in the field. Here is the relevant blurb : "One of the key technology pieces Adapx is touting is the ability to print blueprints and maps on special paper so that the documents can be annotated in the field. When people get back to their computer and dock their pen, the map or blueprint is then updated with the new notes. All that is needed is the company's software and a four-color PostScript printer, Adapx said."

Head on over there to get the links and more info about the product.

A few geoblogs highlighted Garmin's withdrawal from the Tele Atlas acquisition bid and the long term agreement between Garmin and NAVTEQ (owned by Nokia). The Map Room links to a short Engaget story and APB to an article on the withdrawal. All Points Blog provides a few additional links on the settlement of Garmin with TomTom regarding intellectual property cases. The agreement's introduction: "NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading global provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions and Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today announced the completion of a long-term agreement that provides Garmin access to NAVTEQ map data through 2015 with an option to continue through 2019." See also related stories below.

As expected, the Nokia acquisition of NAVTEQ made ink flow. I'm to blame for not having linked to the official press release in my previous coverage. Amongst the reactions, here's Vector One short analysis, GeoCarta discuss how this acquisition could mean trouble for Garmin, and then there's All Points Blog extensive coverage: links to many media reactions, link to why Nokia should now buy Skype, link to why Google never considered buying NAVTEQ themselves and the impact on the price paid by TomTom for TeleAtlas.