Microsoft reportedly interested in establishing 'closer ties' to HERE

Microsoft may be trying to establish new partnerships with HERE, the online mapping company fomerly owned by Nokia and currently owned by a consortium of BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

According to Reuters, HERE is currently in talks with both Microsoft and Amazon for cloud-based computing services. The story quotes an unnamed source as saying that Amazon might buy a stake in HERE and added, "Microsoft is also interested in closer ties to HERE."

While HERE was under Nokia's wing, it developed the HERE maps apps for Windows Phone and Windows platforms before they were released for iOS and Android. In 2015, Nokia sold HERE to the consortium. A couple of weeks ago, HERE announced it was removing those apps from the Windows Store and they would cease to work on Windows devices after June 30. Microsoft says it will continue to use data from HERE for its own Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile map apps.

John Callaham was a former contributor for Windows Central, covering Windows Phone, Surface, gaming, and more.