The Utility of Waze

I've been using waze for about 2 months, again since I found out how awesome it can be.  I signed up with the service when it debuted several years ago, but because there were so few users, I abandoned it. Today I learned exactly how useful it can be, and not just as a police spotter.

On my way to work, I drive over a bridge that offers a fairly decent view not only of the 101 Freeway, but of the airport in San Jose, CA.  I noticed that the Northbound traffic was at a standstill.  Normally at that time of the day (2:30 PM) the traffic is flowing smoothly, if not sparsely.   I happened to glance down at Waze and I saw a plethora of notifications of heavy traffic, so I followed it.  

About another two miles up the road were several reports of an accident.  Some of the Wazers that were caught in the traffic managed to get some pictures of the scene.  I suddenly realized why I had been overtaken by a police officer 15 minutes earlier on the expressway, as he was likely heading toward the action to perform a traffic break.

All this information was more than I might have gotten from either the radio or Google Maps current incarnation.  People who were in within the event were making note it, taking photos, reporting traffic and the incident.  Even Twitter can't really do as much as Waze can in this sort of situation, because it lacks a map.

 What this event showed me was that Waze had some pretty powerful functionality.  I can get traffic data and incident data from Google Maps, but the incident data is from the CHP, not users.  The CHP doesn't show pictures of what is happening.  Google Maps can show which side of the road is affected by the speed of the traffic on that side, but it's only in three colors, Waze provides the average speed.

Waze is really quite good on its own and I can see now why Google would want it.  It's too bad that APple and Facebook couldn't get enough money together to buy it.  Google really picked a winner.

Will Google Find a Waze?

I used Google Maps for Android almost exclusively until about 3 months ago, when I rejoined Waze.  Although I had signed up for Waze several years back when it debuted, I was not initially impressed.  Now it looks as though Google may buy Waze for a cool 1.3 Billion dollars.

To put this potential purchase into perspective, Google is planning to pay roughly twice what the last Powerball jackpot was, to purchase Waze.  I do not know the thoughts of those who are considering this purchase, but I do know that Waze at least has good user interaction and interface is simplistic.

Although Google Maps has many features like Traffic, Images, StreetView, Latitude, Directions, and Navigation, it does not have as much of the social functions that Waze has.  Sure you can write reviews and post pictures, you can even alter the map if it is incorrect, but for now reporting live road incidents is not available.  Waze offers live data from actual users, not merely instrument triggers based on GPS and gyroscope movements.

On the flip-side there may be ulterior motives for a move to purchase Waze, as rumors say that Apple or Facebook may be considering the company.  Apple could definitely use a boost to its mapping software and Facebook could integrated the app into Facebook Home. Is Google stepping in merely to pull Intellectual Property lot out from under their competitors?  It does not sound like a typical Google move.

No matter what happens, I would hope that who ever takes Waze keeps it as it is.  Any full integration into Google, Facebook, or Apple could mean the end to a good app.

Check out Waze on Android and iOS.