APP OF THE DAY: Waze (iPhone / iPad / Android / Blackberrry / Symbian / WP7)
Today’s App of the Day is a multi-platform sat-nav app called Waze. Totally free, Waze relies upon its community of users to deliver real-time traffic and mapping updates.
By driving along with the app open, Waze users passively share info on routes and traffic information with other users, generating alternative routes on the fly. Users can add specific notes to points of interest during their travels too, geo-tagging photos of points of interest within the app or highlighting traffic-trouble hotspots.
“Driving Groups” within the app also allows Waze users to connect with fellow drivers who share the same commute, route, destination or freinds and colleagues, sending specific data relevant to those users only. Each group can have a corresponding Facebook and Twitter accout, meaning that Waze users have no end of ways to connect and share travel information; the perfect network for taxi or shipping fleets for instance.
With the Waze app so dependant on user-generated data, Waze have cleverly added a gaming-style incentive to the app. Real-world prizes are awarded by the Waze team to those who consistently give the most valuable on-the-road info to other users.
“Being based on a live and highly engaged community of drivers is what sets Waze apart,” says Yael Elish, Waze’s VP of Product.
“Our traffic information and other reports are user-generated and 100% real-time, pooling the power of the local driving community to help everyone improve their daily commute and save time. It’s that human element, drivers working together for the common good on the road,that excites our users and puts us in an entirely new category.”
Waze is available now through all major smartphone app store portals.
