Apple Is Hiring Here Employees in Bid to Improve Its Mapping Services: Report

Apple is increasingly focusing on getting its Maps service right. Earlier in December, it was reported that the Cupertino giant would use drones to improve its mapping app. It now looks as though Apple is luring senior staff from Here - a map technology company co-owned by Audi, BMW and Daimler - to set up a Maps team in Berlin, if a new report is to be believed.

Business Insider cites a person familiar with the matter to claim Apple has spent the past few months hiring Here employees for mapping jobs in Berlin. According to LinkedIn, at least half a dozen employees have been hired so far. The report notes:

Khang Tran - a senior software engineer at Here. He joined Apple as a software engineer this month.

Gilbert Schulz - a program manager at Here. He joined Apple in April and currently works on the Apple Maps team.

Konstantin Sinitsyn - a senior software engineer at Here. He joined Apple last November as a software engineer.

Manfred Reich - regional map and content lead, Eastern Europe region at Here. He joined Apple in July 2015 after spending seven years at Here Maps and currently works on the Apple Maps team.

Andrey Arsentyev - a product manager at Here Maps. He joined Apple in May 2015 and currently works on the Apple Maps team.

Torsten Krenz - a director at Here where he worked for more than two and a half years. He joined Apple in August 2014 and currently works on the Maps team.

When asked by Business Insider to comment on Apple's hiring and plans, none of the now ex-Here employees responded.

The Berlin location is particularly interesting as Apple does not have an office there. Apple was reportedly working on its car project in a lab in Berlin. However, Apple has abandoned its plans on building its own car.