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Ask HN: Why is Google killing Waze if so many consider it superior to Maps?

10 points by krembo 3y ago

Waze is considered superior to Google maps at navigating by car in many parts of the world, yet it looks like Google is neglecting it. Why do you think they do so?

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
vinniepukh 3y ago
Waze is a competitor to the monetized product - Google Maps. I think the better question is why haven't they completely killed off Waze yet? I have no idea, but I would guess it would be bad optics given the political climate that is able and willing to look into their monopolistic power and practices.
- alephxyz 3y ago
  Huh I was about to reply that Waze is monetized too but it seems like they stopped temporarily: >As of September 1, 2023, Waze is no longer selling Ads. We have turned down the current Waze Ads product. Advertisers can no longer purchase new ads. We are already working to transition Waze Ads to Google Ads technology and look forward to helping advance your business objectives through our new Waze Ads product soon. https://www.waze.com/ads https://www.waze.com/ads
megamike 3y ago
money
WheelsAtLarge 3y ago
Big companies are like the Star Trek Borg they acquire companies to meld whatever tech they can use. I also suspect that getting rid of a competitor and acquiring its user base is always a plus for the acquirer. Generally speaking, that's how they work so the demise of Waze is not a surprise. Google Maps will always be their primary product.
- shiroiuma 3y ago
  >I also suspect that getting rid of a competitor and acquiring its user base is always a plus for the acquirer. That's surely their thinking, but I believe that thinking is flawed: doing this brings a big risk of losing that userbase to a different competitor if the acquisition isn't handled to the userbase's liking. In this case, how many users are they losing to Apple Maps, for instance?
  - erxam 3y ago
    >In this case, how many users are they losing to Apple Maps, for instance? If they're integrating Waze's data into GMaps, then that number might be far lower than you think. Waze covers more countries than Apple Maps does, and they do so with more accuracy than GMaps. For example, I went on vacation to Belize some time ago. Apple Maps simply didn't offer the option for directions. Google Maps didn't understand that driving in the wrong direction is something you're not supposed to do. Meanwhile, Waze effortlessly led me to my destination. Apple Maps is high-quality, but that means nothing if it isn't offered where you live.
    - shiroiuma 3y ago
      This doesn't address the comment at all. My comment was in response to a comment saying that the previous product (Waze in this case) is being completely retired.
    - maelito 3y ago
      Did you try OSM ? Just curious.
- colechristensen 3y ago
  The borg’s decisions aren’t built on the basis of middle managers career aspirations.
sunnybeetroot 3y ago
Where is the indication that Google is “killing waze”?
- softwaredoug 3y ago
  I'd guess from articles like https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/27/google-cuts-jobs-at-waze-as-it-continues-to-merge-mapping-products.html https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/27/google-cuts-jobs-at-waze-as-...
daviddever23box 3y ago
Clickbait. Downsizing a product team does not mean killing the offering, only that there are fewer hands required to maintain its ongoing operations while adding new features as the market dictates.
- krembo 3y ago
  Not only that. Also cutting all ads in the platform (link few comments below) and also lack of major updates in the past years
woleium 3y ago
Google can’t kill waze, its where a large part of their traffic congestion data comes from. This data is used on google maps to calculate best routes, but is collected from waze users. No waze users, no data.
- dazilcher 3y ago
  What prevents Google from collecting the same data from Maps users?
bigtex 3y ago
I have used Waze for a very long time and would be said to see it go. I took a break from it when it didn’t support CarPlay for a long time and used Apple Maps for awhile which was fine except it lacked being able to submit traffic data. Does Apple or Google allow that now? Can you still report cops on the road?
- xaerise 3y ago
  It have supported CarPlay and Android Auto for years ( i have used it in both since 2018 ). And you can still report cops on the road IF the country allows it.

10 points by krembo 3y ago

Waze is considered superior to Google maps at navigating by car in many parts of the world, yet it looks like Google is neglecting it. Why do you think they do so?

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

vinniepukh 3y ago

Waze is a competitor to the monetized product - Google Maps. I think the better question is why haven't they completely killed off Waze yet? I have no idea, but I would guess it would be bad optics given the political climate that is able and willing to look into their monopolistic power and practices.

alephxyz 3y ago
Huh I was about to reply that Waze is monetized too but it seems like they stopped temporarily: >As of September 1, 2023, Waze is no longer selling Ads. We have turned down the current Waze Ads product. Advertisers can no longer purchase new ads. We are already working to transition Waze Ads to Google Ads technology and look forward to helping advance your business objectives through our new Waze Ads product soon. https://www.waze.com/ads https://www.waze.com/ads

megamike 3y ago

money

WheelsAtLarge 3y ago

Big companies are like the Star Trek Borg they acquire companies to meld whatever tech they can use. I also suspect that getting rid of a competitor and acquiring its user base is always a plus for the acquirer. Generally speaking, that's how they work so the demise of Waze is not a surprise. Google Maps will always be their primary product.

shiroiuma 3y ago
>I also suspect that getting rid of a competitor and acquiring its user base is always a plus for the acquirer. That's surely their thinking, but I believe that thinking is flawed: doing this brings a big risk of losing that userbase to a different competitor if the acquisition isn't handled to the userbase's liking. In this case, how many users are they losing to Apple Maps, for instance?
- erxam 3y ago
  >In this case, how many users are they losing to Apple Maps, for instance? If they're integrating Waze's data into GMaps, then that number might be far lower than you think. Waze covers more countries than Apple Maps does, and they do so with more accuracy than GMaps. For example, I went on vacation to Belize some time ago. Apple Maps simply didn't offer the option for directions. Google Maps didn't understand that driving in the wrong direction is something you're not supposed to do. Meanwhile, Waze effortlessly led me to my destination. Apple Maps is high-quality, but that means nothing if it isn't offered where you live.
  - shiroiuma 3y ago
    This doesn't address the comment at all. My comment was in response to a comment saying that the previous product (Waze in this case) is being completely retired.
  - maelito 3y ago
    Did you try OSM ? Just curious.
colechristensen 3y ago
The borg’s decisions aren’t built on the basis of middle managers career aspirations.

sunnybeetroot 3y ago

Where is the indication that Google is “killing waze”?

softwaredoug 3y ago
I'd guess from articles like https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/27/google-cuts-jobs-at-waze-as-it-continues-to-merge-mapping-products.html https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/27/google-cuts-jobs-at-waze-as-...

daviddever23box 3y ago

Clickbait. Downsizing a product team does not mean killing the offering, only that there are fewer hands required to maintain its ongoing operations while adding new features as the market dictates.

krembo 3y ago
Not only that. Also cutting all ads in the platform (link few comments below) and also lack of major updates in the past years

woleium 3y ago

Google can’t kill waze, its where a large part of their traffic congestion data comes from. This data is used on google maps to calculate best routes, but is collected from waze users. No waze users, no data.

dazilcher 3y ago
What prevents Google from collecting the same data from Maps users?

bigtex 3y ago

I have used Waze for a very long time and would be said to see it go. I took a break from it when it didn’t support CarPlay for a long time and used Apple Maps for awhile which was fine except it lacked being able to submit traffic data. Does Apple or Google allow that now? Can you still report cops on the road?

xaerise 3y ago
It have supported CarPlay and Android Auto for years ( i have used it in both since 2018 ). And you can still report cops on the road IF the country allows it.