Microsoft has announced the launch of Azure Location Based Services – a new public cloud offering for enterprise customers, providing location capabilities built and integrated directly into Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. The new location capabilities will provide cloud developers geographical data to power smart cities and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions across industries including manufacturing, automotive, logistics, urban planning, and retail, among others.
TomTom Telematics will be the first official partner for the service, supplying critical location and real-time traffic data, providing Microsoft customers with location and mapping capabilities. Microsoft also announced that Azure LBS will be launched in the calendar year 2018 and will be available globally in more than 30 languages. The company will also enter in a cloud with ICONIQ, a Chinese Electric Vehicle company. In the year 2018 Microsoft is expected to be joined in by several partners who will be showcasing various location, connected car and smart city-relevant technologies they are building on top of the Azure cloud.
