Nokia is going full force into expanding their mobile mapping service by offering to buy US-based Navteq for a massive US$8.1billion. Navteq is a company which develops digital maps for the car industry, satellite navigation devices, internet-based mapping applications and solutions for the government and business markets.

Early this year, Nokia rolled out their mobile mapping service called Smart2go. I even have a post about the review of Smart2Go, which was done by a reader of mine, Hafiz Ismail.

“The navigation area is a fast-growing business, and with location-based services expanding rapidly into mobile communications devices, the industry is poised for even further growth,” Nokia said in a statement.

The news of Nokia is acquiring Navteq proves to be one of the key steps to strengthen their leadership in mapping service for mobile phone. If the acquisition is successful, it aligns perfectly with Nokia’s vision to enable everyone to find their way to people, places and opportunities on mobile communications devices, cars, desktop computers and in all the other places that are important to them.