Critics said that Apple lost its way in September when it replaced the
ever-accurate Google Maps with its own built-in application on iOS, the
operating system for iPhone and iPad. But a report on Wednesday claims that the
tech giant may use an Israeli company to get back on track.
According to
the Israeli technology website News- Geek, Apple offered almost a half-billion
dollars for Waze Mobile, maker of the popular crowd-sourcing maps and traffic
application. The price may well be worth it for the tech giant to undo its
ignominy, and put its own software, well, back on the map.
Founded in
2009 by Noam Barden, Waze has raised more than $67 million in capital, according
to Globes, and has more than 20 million subscribers active in 45
countries.
Because Waze uses clever crowd-sourcing technology, it has
amassed precise data. Drivers use the application to find traffic conditions and
directions, and simultaneously send up-to-the-minute data back to the company’s
servers.
The app also allows its users to edit maps and thereby provide
fine-tuned detail.
While few found fault in the design of Apple Maps,
users were flummoxed to discover that the underlying data led them astray,
placing national landmarks in the middle of rivers and fumbling straightforward
directions. Australian police even warned against using the application after
having to rescue several people who followed its misdirection into the middle of
the scorching Outback.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was forced to issue an apology
for the misstep. Even faithful fans of the company were relieved in mid-December
when Google released its maps application in the iTunes store, where it remains
the most-downloaded free app.