Microsoft looking to provide mapping data to HERE

With all of the excitement from Build winding down, don’t think you’re off the hook following the latest in Microsoft’s world. The company, as always, continues to have irons in every fire, and may be on the verge of another critical partnership. Reuters has reported that Microsoft, along with Amazon, is considering joining forces with HERE: a digital mapping business, owned by German carmakers BMW, Audi, and Daimler.

The nature of the partnership is reported to have its roots in cloud computing, which Microsoft and Amazon would theoretically supply to HERE if their partnership were to work out as planned. It seems like much of HERE’s demand for cloud computing resources is driven by the fact that all of HERE’s owners are currently developing self-driving cars, and would need this cloud computing data in order to pursue self-driving car technology as far as they would like to.

HERE is still reportedly looking to take on new members to split the investment costs, and car companies Renault, Continental, and Ford have all expressed interest in jumping on the bandwagon.