Facebook replaced Google Maps and Bing with HERE Maps in terms of user geolocation in the mobile version of the website, the Facebook Messenger application and application Instagram dedicated to the Android platform. The change comes without any prior warning provided by the American company and affects hundreds of millions of users around the world who have encountered it, or will encounter it in the following days.
Facebook Messenger has 500 million of active users worldwide and it is not known how many hundreds of millions use Instagram for Android or the mobile version of Facebook, but it is clear that HERE Maps will appear for many people. Considering that the change does not affect the Facebook application for mobile terminals, there you will still see Google Maps or bing for geolocation made in various menus, so for now things do not change here.
We are testing Nokia HERE maps across Facebook to give us more control and flexibility in delivering a consistent maps experience. I can confirm that we're testing HERE maps in Android versions of some of our standalone apps like Instagram and Messenger as well. We're excited that our maps can be enjoyed by Facebook users.
Maps HERE it is used by Facebook in the mobile version, Facebook Messenger and Instagram for Android in order to help us more easily identify the locations where we are, but also to apply location tags. HERE Maps has one of the largest databases with locations and businesses, and those at Facebook want to take advantage of it to improve the experience of using their own platform.
Nokia has been trying for several months to sell the division that manages HERE Maps, but so far it has only managed to conclude a contract with Facebook regarding its use, the change being, theoretically, beneficial for the hundreds of millions of Facebook users. For now, the changes are being propagated throughout the world, so no one is complaining about the change, but there is a chance that some will not be satisfied with what HERE Maps offers.
Those from Facebook claim that the implementation of HERE Maps will give Facebook users a better experience in using the services offered by the social network, but I am curious to know what you think about the change.
