Dutch digital map maker AND looking for buyer-source

AMSTERDAM, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Dutch digital map maker AND (ANDP.AS) is in exploratory talks with potential strategic buyers which could lead to a deal within a year, a company source told Reuters on Tuesday.

"The company is healthy, it will be profitable this year, they are looking for the next step," the source said, without giving names of potential buyers.

AND declined to comment.

The source said the timing for a sale is good as technology players ranging from Microsoft (MSFT.O) and Apple (AAPL.O) to social networks such Facebook and Twitter want to secure their source for map-related products.

AND, which has a market capitalization of 16 million euros ($20.4 million), is one of the few independent digital mappers left after TomTom (TOM2.AS) bought Tele Atlas for 2.9 billion euros and Nokia (NOK1V.HE) paid 5.3 billion for Navteq two years ago.

"The talks could lead to a deal in a year from now," the source said.

The company has also started a mapping alliance with privately owned EMG from China and Dubai-based Orion to challenge Tele Atlas and Navteq. In October the alliance will make an announcement about new partners and give details about the technology the group will use, the source said.

AND was founded in 1984. Its customers include IBM (IBM.N), Garmin (GRMN.O), Google (GOOG.O), Microsoft and Nokia. (Reporting by Harro ten Wolde; Editing by David Holmes) ($1=.7846 Euro)