Facebook reportedly in talks to buy social mapping service Waze

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Waze, the social mapping and traffic service that Apple once recommended as a potential alternative to its own iOS Maps solution, is reportedly in talks with Facebook about a possible acquisition by the networking giant.

Facebook could pay as much as $1 billion for Waze, according to two unnamed sources who spoke with Bloomberg. Talks between the two companies are not final, those people said, and could eventually fall apart.

Waze


The move would allow Facebook to compete with the likes of Apple, Google, Microsoft, Nokia and others who have their own mapping solutions.

There were rumors early this year that Apple was potentially interested in buying Waze to bolster its own Maps application for iOS, but those claims turned out to be inaccurate. Apple did, however, promote Waze as a potential alternative when the company apologized to customers who felt that Apple's new mapping solution, which debuted in iOS 6, was substandard.

Waze is available for iOS as a free download on the App Store. The company claims more than 30 million people use the service as a "fun, community-based traffic & navigation app."

With Waze, users share real-time information on traffic congestion, gas prices, accidents, speed traps, checkpoints and more. Some data is automatically reported by simply having the iPhone application open while driving.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 16
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,650member


    A well-respected location and mapping industry expert commented on the rumored price earlier today:


    http://blog.telemapics.com/?p=423

  • Reply 2 of 16
    matrix07matrix07 Posts: 1,993member
    Crazy.
  • Reply 3 of 16
    chandra69chandra69 Posts: 638member


    Industry market share of a single company gets diluted with all the crap parallel products.


    Gone are the times to lead the market share with best services.


    So many companies want to mimic other companies' services. 

  • Reply 4 of 16
    ad7100ad7100 Posts: 1member


    NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


     


    Apple please step in and buy WAZE its really cool but as for accuracy and search iMaps is better.

  • Reply 5 of 16


    If that happens, I'm dropping it.  No thanks, Facebook.

  • Reply 6 of 16
    anonymouseanonymouse Posts: 6,975member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Applelunatic View Post


    If that happens, I'm dropping it.  No thanks, Facebook.



     


    Don't worry, they're just floating the Facebook $1B rumor so Google will step in and buy them for $2B. It'll fit nicely into their portfolio alongside Motorola, and a bargain at that.

  • Reply 7 of 16

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anonymouse View Post


     


    Don't worry, they're just floating the Facebook $1B rumor so Google will step in and buy them for $2B. It'll fit nicely into their portfolio alongside Motorola, and a bargain at that.



    And even worse acquirer.  Double no thanks!

  • Reply 8 of 16
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 18,039member
    I love Waze. I'm also pretty sure Facebook will destroy it and try to monetize it to death. Can't wait for the popup that says "want real-time hazard and police reports? Upgrade now to Waze Pro for only $9.99" SMH
  • Reply 9 of 16
    evilutionevilution Posts: 1,399member
    Please no!
  • Reply 10 of 16
    "With Waze, users share real-time information on traffic congestion, gas prices, accidents, speed traps, checkpoints and more."

    Oh good. More distractions while driving. Thanks Facebook.
  • Reply 11 of 16
    r00fusr00fus Posts: 245member


    Apple, please f*cking buy Waze and keep FB out of my car.


     


    FB + Waze = monetized directions? Ugh.

  • Reply 12 of 16
    barthrhbarthrh Posts: 142member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SDW2001 View Post



    I love Waze. I'm also pretty sure Facebook will destroy it and try to monetize it to death. Can't wait for the popup that says "want real-time hazard and police reports? Upgrade now to Waze Pro for only $9.99" SMH


    I just don't see what's with all of these companies that feel the need to generate revenue to cover their costs. Just give it away and make it up in volume!

  • Reply 13 of 16

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by barthrh View Post


    I just don't see what's with all of these companies that feel the need to generate revenue to cover their costs. Just give it away and make it up in volume!



    So you're saying Wave generates no revenue right now without being monetized to death with microtransactions? If not, what exactly is your point?

  • Reply 14 of 16
    cm477cm477 Posts: 99member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ad7100 View Post


    NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


     


    Apple please step in and buy WAZE its really cool but as for accuracy and search iMaps is better.



    Agreed. Double Nooooooo! I use Waze for navigation, traffic congestion, gas prices, accidents, and other hazards. I've found that it can't be beat by Apple Maps, Google Maps, or MotionX GPS for navigating around traffic.  For this, the social aspect is great. But I don't need to chat with other users or collect goodies. I don't need to post on Facebook where I am in my commute. All this other superfluous social stuff is just distracting. Just tell me how to get around traffic and get me to where I want to go as fast as possible. Unfortunately, I think Apple buying them would just restrict Waze's capabilities and flexibilities.

  • Reply 15 of 16


    Sweet jesus, please no. It doesn't need to be any more social than it already is - it should be transparently using data from other drivers, but I don't want to know who they are. This is what makes Waze great. I would like to see some of those implementations in Apple maps, real time user speed/reporting of accidents and gas prices etc, but nothing else. 

  • Reply 16 of 16
    Agreed, applelunatic. I can't see anything positive for the users if FB buys Waze
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