Continuously updating information: Google updates Street View fairly often, and Map Maker lets users correct information, but Waze lets users report accidents, road closures, traffic jams, hazards, and gas prices. Google’s Street View cameras are good, but they’re not that exacting. Users may even contribute information about pot holes to avoid on streets. #Facebook friends mapper review plus
Waze includes stoplights and red-light cameras along a route, plus the app will re-route you if it receives information about congestion or an accident while you’re en route.
More on-the-ground information: Google’s satellite images are a constant reminder that big “G” is watching, and Google Street View provides static information along a road, but it’s missing specific information about a route. Plus, it includes real-time notices of accidents, hazards, and speed traps. Waze’s user sourced traffic information will tell you exactly how fast traffic is moving on a particular street, no matter whether its faster or slower than the posted speed limit. It’s also light on specifics and realistic alternate routes. Really real-time traffic information: Google has had real-time traffic information for awhile, but it’s not always the most accurate at judging how long a delay might be. So what exactly is Google getting out of this deal? Here’s some of the features Google Maps may adopt, courtesy of Waze: Google’s Map Maker lets users make adjustments, but it’s not as granular. OpenStreetMap recently upgraded its community mapping tool, making it easy for anyone to edit a map. Plus, there are the open-source maps, namely OpenStreetMap, which is already powering several apps, including Foursquare. The announcement yesterday at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference that Apple Maps will be integrated into vehicles starting in 2014 is poised to be a huge blow to Google. First, there’s Apple Maps, which was a laughable alternative when it first launched, but is quickly adjusting to its growing pains. While Google is still pretty much the king of maps, it’s getting some hefty competition from all sides. However, we’re sure Waze will take advantage of Google’s search capabilities and use Google’s maps to enhance their own. Waze is remaining a standalone company for now, and the Waze blog assured its 50 million users, called Wazers, that there won’t be any changes to the Waze community, service, organization, or brand. 
The rumored purchase price for Waze is a whopping $1.1 billion, and while it may appear that Google bought the company simply to keep Facebook from doing so, there are many other ways Waze will benefit Google and its trusted maps.
The Israel-based crowd-sourced mapping app has given its rose to Google after lots of talk that the company would be purchased by Facebook instead. We all know Google likes acquiring companies and Google-fying them, but that’s not the case with today’s acquisition of Waze.
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