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Reports have surfaced that Google is considering a competitive bid for map software developer Waze. The move comes after sources indicated that Facebook had held talks to buy Waze. Reportedly, no one company is close to closing the deal, and Waze itself may choose to use venture backing to expand its services rather than seek a buyout.
Crowdsourced traffic and navigation app service Waze may be acquired by Facebook, according to a report. The discussions between Waze and Facebook come months after a possible acquisition offer from Apple and appears to be reaching the same financial levels as the billion-dollar Instagram deal in April last year.
Apple and Waze did in fact talk about a possible buyout, but Waze turned Apple down, Next Web sources say. Recently TechCrunch claimed that Apple was offering a total of $500 million for an acquisition, but that Waze was holding out for $750 million. The site quickly reversed course, saying that no serious talks had occurred.
An Apple buyout of Waze isn't happening "now or anytime soon," sources now tell TechCrunch. The news rebuts earlier claims from multiple outlets, including one by TechCrunch itself that suggested Waze was hoping for a $750 million pricetag. Apple, by contrast, is only said to have been willing to spend $400 million plus another $100 million in incentives.
Negotiations for an Apple buyout of Waze are actually well underway, although Waze is holding out for a larger sum, a TechCrunch source now says. Waze is reportedly angling for a $750 million deal, while Apple is only willing to offer $400 million in straight cash plus another $100 million in incentives.
Apple is "sniffing around" Waze and contemplating a buyout of the company, new rumors indicate. Waze describes its iOS app as a "community-based" traffic and navigation service, with over 30 million users. Users share date not only on traffic but things like accidents, checkpoints, and gas prices. In some cases, data is uploaded to Waze servers automatically.
Waze and several other parties have been identified as contributors to iOS 6's Maps data, TechCrunch notes. Although TomTom is the app's biggest contributor, outfits such as Getchee, Localeze, Urban Mapping, DMTI, and MapData Sciences are also participating. Perhaps one of the biggest names is Waze, a company which provides free crowdsourced map data to parties on iOS, Android, and other mobile platforms. The firm's iOS presence might have been rendered obsolete without Apple's decision to make it a part of the official Maps content.
Waze, an Israel-based mobile-apps start-up has issued a new release of its iOS version of its app to let drivers report traffic conditions while still staying focused on the road (free, App Store). The app makes use of the iPhone's proximity detector to activate voice recognition by waving a hand. It then asks a series of questions which helps the driver create and send a traffic report.
