German luxury auto manufacturers, BMW AG, Audi AG and Daimler AG, have banded together to purchase Nokia’s HERE Maps unit. There game plan? Car connectivity and ultimately, self-driving cars. HERE Maps is known for its detailed and accurate mapping.
The auto-makers will use the software in their own vehicles, as well as make it available to other manufacturers in and outside the industry. The cost of this acquisition? $3.1 billion.

Again, it bears been said: it is amazing how the software that will power everything in the near future was given to us by mobile technology.