Features
Waze has the ability to direct users based on crowdsourced information. Waze users are able to report a multitude of traffic-related incidents from accidents to police traps. This data is used by Waze to help other users either by alerting them of the condition ahead or rerouting the user to avoid the area entirely. In addition to user input, Waze relies on information from state agencies for traffic events such as road construction. The idea behind this is that the more people that provide data the more accurate it will be.[32]
In addition to using crowdsourced information for traffic alerts, Waze also allows registered users to modify the map data itself through the Waze Map Editor. Map editors are allowed to make changes to the map based on where they have driven while using Waze as well as their rank which is based on how many map edits a user has made. In June 2013, Waze introduced a global localization project that enables future road closures and real-time traffic updates during major events in a given country, for example the Tour de France.[33] Google also acquired Waze in the same month. At the time of Google's acquisition, there were nearly 50 million Waze users.[34] In 2017, an option was added for motorcycle users, as well as specialized routes for people eligible to drive in carpool lanes.[35]
Waze also lets users choose their navigation voice. Some featured voices include Morgan Freeman, T-Pain, DJ Khaled, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cookie Monster, Colonel Sanders, Kevin Hart, Shaq, Sonic the Hedgehog, and many more.[36][37]
In March 2017, Spotify announced its partnership with Waze to give an integrated experience where Wazers could play music on Spotify directly from Waze app and get Waze directions on Spotify app on the Android platform. Six months later, the feature was made available on the iOS platform.[38][39] In May 2017, Waze introduced the ability for users to record their own voice navigation prompts.[40]
In August 2018, Waze introduced Android Auto support.[41] In September 2018, Waze introduced Apple CarPlay support after Apple released iOS 12.[42]
In October 2018, Waze announced its partnership with Pandora, Deezer, iHeart Radio, NPR One, Scribd, Stitcher, and TuneIn for Waze Audio Player which Spotify has been Waze inaugural partner. However, Android users won't be able to link Deezer, and iOS users won't have access to Pandora, NPR, or TuneIn when Waze announced its partnership in Medium suggesting joining its beta program to be able to use mentioned services.[43]
In February 2019, Waze updated its iOS platform with Siri Shortcuts support.[44] In May 2019 the company announced it would be adding Pandora as a new streaming service to the audio play feature for iOS users, allowing riders to have more music options during their commute.[45] In August 2019, Waze added YouTube Music integration to both platforms.[46]
Google announced at the Google I/O 2019 developer conference it was adding Google Assistant integration with Waze.[47] The integration was made available to Android phones in June 2019.[48]
In September 2020, Waze added support for lane guidance. Waze also announced that starting in October 2020, it would implement trip suggestions, pulling together suggestions from recently visited places.[49]
Waze ran a dedicated carpooling app, Waze Carpool, which was first launched in 2016 and was available in the US, Brazil, and Israel. In 2022, Google announced that the carpool app would be retired, citing COVID-related changes in commuting patterns that led to a sharp decline in carpooling.[50]
In November 2023, Waze introduced a new safety feature with car crash history alerts.[51]
Connected Citizens Program / Waze for Cities
Waze launched the Connected Citizens Program (CCP) in June 2014, a free, two-way data sharing program used by over 450 governments, departments of transportation, and municipalities for traffic analysis, road planning, and emergency workforce dispatching.[52][53] The program is a two-way data exchange between Waze and the partner.
In 2014, Rio de Janeiro started collecting data for its traffic management system. Rio collects real-time data both from drivers who use the Waze navigation app and pedestrians who use the public-transportation app Moovit. Rio was also talking to the owners of cycling app Strava to monitor movements of cyclists. It was noted that though initially the data the apps were sharing was all anonymous, more specific identifying details were possible, if people agreed to being monitored through their smartphones if they saw benefits for them.[54]
In 2021, the program got a major overhaul and got renamed Waze for Cities (W4C).
