Apple's Survey App for Indoor Mapping Gets Spotted

Apple has a new app out that lets business owners assess venues using their iOS device. Too bad, most of us can't use it just yet as only those with access to its credentials can sign in. The app, dubbed Indoor Survey App, reveals the company's growing interest to get into indoor mapping, and will help businesses or venues create indoor maps for the platform.

First spotted by app developer Steve Troughton-Smith, the Indoor Survey App isn't available on the App Store via public searches but can be accessed via this direct link. As per the description of app, it enables "indoor positioning within a venue".

"By dropping 'points' on a map within the Survey App, you indicate your position within the venue as you walk through. As you do so, the Indoor Survey App measures the radio frequency (RF) signal data and combines it with an iPhone's sensor data."

As AppleInsider points out, the functionality of Indoor Survey App is similar to technology developed by WiFiSLAM, a Silicon Valley startup. The company was acquired by Apple back in 2013 for a sum of $20 million (roughly Rs. 131.1 crore).

The existence of the app signals company's interest in indoor mapping tools. The Cupertino-based company introduced iBeacons for retailers and venue owners to send location-specific notifications and alerts. Furthermore, over the years, the company has given developers access to detailed location data in its iOS mobile operating system.

As The Verge points out, the company last year launched Apple Maps Connect and invited some business owners to feed their mapping information. As more places adopt indoor positioning, Apple's new app could make it simpler to expand and make use of such data.