AutoNavi Holdings, a Chinese map software company being acquired by Alibaba Group Holding, bought Alohar Mobile, a start-up that introduced a new family-tracking app called PlaceUs on July 23.
“When you think about families, we haven’t scratched the surface,” Daniel Avizu, TWT Digital’s CEO, said in an interview. “It’s a huge market, and there’s a lot of space for everybody to grow.”
Because family-tracking software keeps data on identities and exact locations, privacy controls are a key consideration for developers of the programs. Most apps let users turn their location-monitoring on and off, and require them to go through an extensive opt-in process.
The tracking apps, which use satellite data and other data to pinpoint locations, are usually free and offer additional features for a cost. While they could siphon sales from wireless providers, the apps could also boost data usage. Verizon, whose venture arm invested in Glympse, is betting that location apps can help the carrier sell more data plans, Haro said.
To read the full article about the PlaceUs App found on The Chicago Tribune, please click here!