Friday, March 29

Waze or Google Maps: which one should you use?



The traditional GPS as a standalone device was superseded by technological advancement. Now it is not necessary to buy anything, it is enough to download an application on your cell phone or even use the integrated system of some vehicles to have a free navigation service at your fingertips.

Options like Google Maps or Waze are positioned above others and when choosing one of them, questions arise. Now, there is no one that is better, but they adapt to different traveler models.

First of all, it is important to note that both belong to Google. Waze Mobile developed its app in 2007 and sold it to the tech giant in 2013 for nearly $970 million. As far as Maps is concerned, it has been around since 2005 and was always a division of Google. However, the fact that the two are under the same orbit does not mean that they are the same: they work independently, with different equipment and even different functionalities that adapt to different types of travelers.

Herein lies the first and perhaps most important difference. While Google Maps is a navigation service suitable for anyone, Waze is limited to cars and/or motorcycles. The first allows you to trace routes in vehicles, public transport, on foot and even by bicycle, while its pair does not have options for travelers who are not on a wheeled vehicle. Therefore, when measuring the number of users, it is difficult to make an accurate comparison. Maps has 1 billion users worldwide and Waze has 150 million monthly active users; but to have a real measurement, it would be necessary to discount those who use a service to see bus lines, for example.

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Leaving that aside, the operation is also a bit different. But first, we must highlight the similarities. Both work with information in real time, its teams talk with governments and road authorities to update roads and routes and have the collaboration of users and employees. However, one focuses almost exclusively on the premise of being a “collaborative meeting point” while the other provides information and point.

Waze, with emphasis on users

According to the data provided by the company to the newspaper La Nación, there are currently more than 500,000 publishers around the world who receive approximately 12 million monthly alerts and verify their veracity. In short, Waze depends on the information provided by users. This means that in very crowded areas, the alerts will be in real time and based on recent information, while in more remote places it is likely that it will not be entirely accurate.

The application rewards the user for updating the status of the road he is traveling and has a system of levels and customization that grows as true data is sent and verified by other wazers. In turn, the service “responds more and more to the needs of wazers, preferences and routines” by what it understands routines and paths that those who use its application generally take, to facilitate their arrival at their destination in the best way.

Maps, with a focus on traffic history

In the original Google service there is also the collaboration of users, the alerts and notices system. However, traffic reports in real time are made from histories. I eat? The company explained to La Nación that “to predict how traffic will be in the near future, Google Maps analyzes the historical traffic patterns of the roads over time. A pattern might show that Highway 280 in Northern California typically has vehicles traveling at speeds of 100 kmph between 6:00 am and 7:00 am, but only 25-30 kmph in the late afternoon. We then combine this database of historical traffic patterns with real-time traffic conditions, using machine learning to generate predictions based on both data sets.”

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In other words, and to simplify the explanation, it takes historical traffic data from routes and roads and combines it with real-time alerts issued by drivers. For example, if crossing General Paz has historically been done in 50 minutes during rush hour but several drivers notice the presence of an accident, the service combines both data and updates the information to tell users that they will take that day and at that time. an hour and a half to complete the trip.

Routes and paths: how Google Maps and Waze choose a route

Another point of difference between both services. While both seek the fastest route, each does so in a different way. Maps, for example, combines not only real-time and historical traffic reports, but also road conditions. Prioritizes, as explained on the official website, routes with few stops, main arteries and direct trips -that is, it avoids small streets and usually sends its drivers along avenues or highways even though they are very crowded-. Waze, for its part, contemplates speed almost exclusively and crosses the data sent by its users with that distributed by road authorities to diagram the fastest trip; so it is more likely that you choose less traveled streets, even though they are not main arteries.

Now, the advantage of Waze is that it will always show the fastest route; its disadvantage, on the other hand, is that it does not work offline. Maps, meanwhile, has the ability to save maps offline and use them when your device isn’t connected to the Internet. For example, a user can save the information of an entire route and activate the navigation even without a signal. The only thing that will happen is that you will not have traffic information or alerts about the road but you will be able to see which way you have to go.

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In summary, both applications have their advantages and disadvantages and, as clarified at the beginning, they depend on the type of driver that uses each service. Both are free and can be downloaded from the app store of the different devices.

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