Waze is a map service for iOS and Android developed in Israel. What sets Waze from others are that the service has always been free, and that it relies heavily on social inclusion with their friends. Waze has grown from about 20 million users in July 2012 to 47 million users in May 2013. The big players have long ogled at Waze and it is said that Apple was interested in buying the company for $ 500 million. Apple CEO Tim Cook denied however that rumor at AllThingsD conference D11 that went in late May. In May, the talk was also about that Facebook would buy Waze a billion dollars, something that neither it happened. The reason is believed to be that Facebook would not let Waze continue to operate from Israel but wanted to move the company to the United States.
Today, said to be Google, which is close to a purchase of Waze, not because they need the service, but to lock out Facebook and Apple. Apple already has its kartjänst running, but it was a shaky start in which Tim Cook subsequently admitted that they had done away page. Facebook has no kartjänst today, but it would not be unreasonable to think that they want to enter the market. Buying Waze had given Facebook a running start in the world, something that Google is now believed to want to prevent.
According to Israeli news service Globes have sources of unknown nature informed that Google should buy Waze for $ 1.3 billion. Other media report that Google is now in the final stages of the process and will present the purchase very soon. All of these sources and rumor is unconfirmed.
blog Mashable has contacted both Waze and Google for comment. While Waze did not respond to the question told Google that they do not comment on rumors or speculation.
The next days only will tell prima facie rumor is true or not.
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