Turn-by-turn navigation was one of the features that iPhone users were most looking forward to with the release of the iPhone 3.0 software. Unfortunately, as users quickly found out, turn-by-turn meant either significantly more expensive apps, or a monthly fee. Not only does Waze do it for free, but it offers an interesting gaming element to boot.
The reason Waze can be free while other turn-by-turn apps are expensive is that their maps are entirely user-generated. Waze simply lays down a foundation and users build out the roads just by using the app. And the company makes it in your interest to help them not only by offering turn-by-turn functionality, but also by turning the mapping of uncharted areas into a game or sorts. If you’re on a road that no Waze user has mapped before, you will see little dots and your car icon will turn into a Pac-Man-like character, to eat the dots and collect points for it.
I got a chance to see Waze in action at the DEMO conference in San Diego this week. The company was there to formally launch the service to a majority of smartphone users, adding Symbian and Windows Mobile support to its previously in-beta version of its iPhone and Android apps. The company took me for a ride through San Diego to show off how it works. Not only does the turn-by-turn functionality work well, but the the social element is very interesting. And did I mention that it’s free?
If you’re in an area with other Waze users, you will see them represented by icons (of their choosing) on your screen. You can also easily send reports of traffic incidents to Waze and to services like Twitter. Obviously, you probably don’t want to do that while you’re actually driving, but it’s a kind of cool little element of the mapping service that seems perfect if someone else is in the car with you. And these real-time mapping updates are really the key to all of this.
While turn-by-turn navigation is great, the real end-game for Waze is to have full map data for the entire U.S. and presumably, eventually, the rest of the world. The service initially launched in Israel, and it has already seen some 180,000 downloads there which has led to 91% of the map for that country being built. In fact, the data is so good that it is ready to be licensed out to other companies, I’m told. When the data for the U.S. get to the same level, that will be the plan as well.
And it’s a compelling business model because Waze basically has users building their maps for free, so they are able to then license that data at much better rates than the two big mapping companies, Navteq and Tele Atlas. And the company says that by relying on this user data, it is able to update its maps much faster. This means the service can offer things like real-time traffic information (you get pinged if there is bad traffic based on your driving pattern — stop and go, etc) and road construction. All of this information is passed to Waze anonymously.
You can find Waze for the iPhone here, for Android here, and for Windows Mobile, Symbian and other devices here.
There’s a similar game (but better) here: http://bit.ly/SeUhL
So… why didn’t Google think of that?
Direct appsto.re link: http://appsto.re/waze
If you’re having people build the apps why restrict Canada?
This is a spectacular idea. What a fun app! I can’t wait to get started.
This is really cool MG. Why don’t the complainers give you credit for writing about something totally new like this?
This is a fabulous idea. Kudos to whoever came up with it and had the perseverance to make it a reality. Take that, Tom Tom!
I downloaded and installed this app on my iPhone and then quickly uninstalled it. The interface is cluttered and confusing and just begging to distract you when you’re driving and it had a hard time getting a GPS lock when Google Maps had no problem (can’t fathom how that could be). There’s a good reason why this is free…
No..you definitely don’t want to tweet while driving.. here’s why http://bit.ly/9vXcz
(sorry MG – couldn’t resist)
Integration of Open Street Map would have been more interesting. It also has been almost universally panned by users as buggy, crash prone, and slow.
I’ve been using it for about a week now. I’ve had a few issues getting a GPS lock (or having it lose the lock) but that just might be my Fuze. It’s crashed once
But… I’ve been using it side by side with my Garmin to get around and it’s pretty impressive already
It has nice reviews! http://www.uque.../apps/323229106
they should have launched at TC50, they would have crushed in that sea of mediocrity.
Users building maps for Waze. Trustworthy and reliable data. This proves why it stands out of the competition.
This is awesome. Great name tooo! A combination between maze and ways. Ill be giving waze a try.
No Blackberry support
I understood that Google is going to bu Waze for 100M $. The deal will be closed in the next few weeks. I wonder if it’ll stop the development.