Google is putting its $966-million Waze purchase to good use with an updated version of Google Maps. The new version of Maps was released on Tuesday.
Owners of Apple's iPhone can download the new version of Google Maps from the App Store. The updated version is purported to integrate new features that will help people cut their commute time and avoid hassles on the road. The new Google Maps enhances the capability of the previous iteration of the service. The earlier version suggests multiple routes, but does not actively search for better ones after a route has been chosen. The new version will suggest alternative routes if there are reports of delays or traffic on the existing route.
"Outsmart traffic and save time on the road- #GoogleMaps will notify you if there's a faster route. Now on iPhone and Android, where navigation is available," announced Google.
The update to Google Maps will allow users to find faster routes while in Navigation mode. The Waze-boosted mobile map application can alert users if a more efficient route to one's destination is available. The detour will not only help save time and money, but also spare users from the stress of driving in traffic. Users can take the revised route to save a few minutes, but they also have the option to decline and continue with their usual route.
In 2011, traffic congestion in the U.S. cost people $121 billion in fuel and time, according to a study done by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
Android users received the same tweak for the mapping service last month.
Google bought Waze in June 2013 and rolled out the first update to its mapping service in August. The search engine giant plans to slowly integrate features from the social traffic mobile application into its own Maps app. Both the Android and iOS versions of Maps are now able to utilize incident reports that come in real-time as users post information. Drivers can skip areas where there are accidents, road closures or traffic mishaps.
In November, the desktop version of Maps also received updates that make use of traffic information coming from Waze.
Google has been allowing Waze to operate independently from its headquarters in Israel.
Apple also allegedly made moves to acquire the crowdsourcing map service in late 2012 or early 2013, but Waze declined its offer. However, Apple was able to snatch up a mapping service last year in the form of Broadmap.
