Google was, IIRC, the second widely reported suitor after Facebook; I don't see that there's much reason to see it as defensive rather than an acquisition to enhance a major existing offering -- AFAICT, lots of people that preferred Google Maps prior to Waze shifted to Waze, at least for at-the-moment navigation, due to Waze's social features which resulted in better realtime traffic and routing.
Comments
Presumably this is defense against Apple (or Samsung) getting it.
Google was, IIRC, the second widely reported suitor after Facebook; I don't see that there's much reason to see it as defensive rather than an acquisition to enhance a major existing offering -- AFAICT, lots of people that preferred Google Maps prior to Waze shifted to Waze, at least for at-the-moment navigation, due to Waze's social features which resulted in better realtime traffic and routing.
Google Maps is the best as much for its maps acquisitions as it is the work they put into it.
If they do acquire it, it will because they see a use for Waze talent and tech.
While adding to Google's impressive collection of mapping data. Google has and will continue to make a lot of acquisitions in this space.
I think Tim Cook answered on his D11 interview that they did not make an offer for Waze.