Uber, the popular ride-sharing startup, is acquiring the mapping and search startup deCarta for an unspecified amount, Mashable has learned.

The deal, which closes later this week, is for deCarta's technology and talent. Founded in 1996, the San Jose startup provides a software platform that focuses on location-based features, including mapping, local search and turn-by-turn navigation.

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"A lot of the functionality that makes the Uber app so reliable, affordable and seamless is based on mapping technologies," an Uber spokesperson told Mashable. "With the acquisition of deCarta, we will continue to fine-tune our products and services that rely on maps –- for example UberPOOL, the way we compute ETAs, and others – and make the Uber experience even better for our users."

Although Uber has raised roughly $5.9 billion since 2009 from backers including First Round Capital, Google Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the rapidly growing ride-sharing company has been surprisingly stingy with acquisitions.

"Uber has not acquired a single company," Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said onstage at a tech conference last September. "We are focused on the product. We are in 45 countries. We haven’t spent time on M&A (mergers and acquisitions).”

What Uber has focused on is aggressive global expansion. In February, the company announced a partnership with Starwood Hotel and Resorts where Starwood Preferred Guest members earn points towards free hotel stays for every dollar spent riding Uber.

The same month, Uber also expanded its latest funding round by $1 billion up to $2.8 billion, while maintaining a $40 billion valuation.

30 out of 40 deCarta employees will remain with the company once the deal closes, including deCarta CEO and President Kim Fennell. deCarta will continue to operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uber, but will still use its own name. The mapping software will be used internally, Uber says.