Cyber Monday Sale! 50% Off All Access

Uber Just Bought Mapping Startup deCarta The ridesharing tech company says geolocation and navigation technology is a big part of what keeps it running efficiently.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Uber is kinda taking over the world. But without quality mapping technology, talk about an emperor with no clothes.

That's why the ridesharing technology giant just scooped up San Jose, Calif.-based geolocation startup deCarta. (With a valuation of $40 billion, Uber can definitely afford to do some shopping.)

Related: Uber Raises $1.2 Billion in New Funding Based on a $40 Billion Valuation

In addition to offering digital maps, deCarta specializes in search with local, location-based results and turn-by-turn navigation, including making driving directions cognizant of traffic conditions.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

According to Uber, digital mapping technology is responsible for "a lot of the functionality" that keeps the company running efficiently. "With the acquisition of deCarta, we will continue to fine tune products and services that rely on maps – including UberPOOL and the way we compute ETAs – and make the Uber experience even better for our users," said Uber in an emailed statement.

Related: Check Your Rearview, Google. Uber Is Getting Into Self-Driving Cars, Too.

Currently, Uber runs with Google Maps technology -- which makes sense, since Google Ventures is an Uber investor.

But Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick might be getting a wee-bit competitive with the formative Silicon Valley search giant. Scooping up the talent and technology that deCarta has could put Uber in a position to rely less on Google -- which may be a wise move since Google and Uber appear to be stepping on each other's toes. Uber is working on building its own driverless cars, an Everest Google has long been sweating to summit. And a recent exclusive from Bloomberg said that Google is working on its own Uber-ish transportation app.

Related: Lyft CMO: Uber Is the Wal-Mart of Transportation. We Aren't.
Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

Her Restaurant Business Is Worth $100 Million — Here's Her Unconventional Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, talks about going from TV producer to restaurant owner, leaning into failure and the value of good PR.

Business News

Elon Musk Still Isn't Getting His Historically High Pay as CEO of Tesla — Here's Why

A second shareholder vote wasn't enough to convince Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick.

Legal

How Do You Stop Porch Pirates From Stealing Christmas? These Top Tips Will Help Secure Your Deliveries.

Over 100 million packages were stolen last year. Here are top tips to make sure your stuff doesn't get swiped.

Leadership

Leadership vs. Management: How to Understand the Difference and 6 Ways to Bridge the Gap

Here are the key differences between leadership and management, highlighting their complementary roles and providing six strategies to develop managers into future leaders.

Business News

'Something Previously Impossible': New AI Makes 3D Worlds Out of a Single Image

The new technology allows viewers to explore two-dimensional images in 3D.

Business News

'I Stand By My Decisions': A CEO Is Going Viral For Firing Almost All of the Company's Employees — Here's Why

The Musicians Club CEO Baldvin Oddsson fired 99 workers at once over Slack for missing a morning meeting. But there's a catch.