There comes a rumor in China that Google was preparing to acquire Mapabc, a leading online map application that provides directions and interactive map mainly the areas in China. If Google really acquire Mapabc, it will definitely complement the existing Google Maps’ services in China, the Google Ditu. According to a source (in Mandarin) in China, if the deal is going to take place, Mapabc will still remains as a stand-alone subsidiary of Google China and Google China would not interfere the daily operations of Mapabc. In fact, Mapabc has closed some strategic partnerships with several established players in the world even before the above proposed acquisition. They have partnered with Multimap, a leading online maps provider in Europe, and had a pre-existing business relationship with Google China, their closest partner in China. But as usual, no official announcement that found on Google’s home page pertaining to this proposed acquisition.

Mapabc is based in Beijing China, was shortlisted as the top 50 most valuable Web applications in year 2005. Their strongest competitor in the China’s online maps services include O.CN, owned by Tencent, a provider of messenger services in China and QQ Shuqian.