Google Close To Closing $1.3B Acquisition For Waze

Google could be on the final stages on the move to acquire Waze, the social traffic and navigation app. Globes, a native Israeli newspaper, has reported the deal could be in its finalization stages, with Google ready to announce within weeks.

The price has been bumped up, from $1 billion Facebook apparently offered to $1.3 billion. The reason behind Facebook’s departure from the bidding war was due to most of Waze’s staff living in Israel Facebook wanted them to move to the US, while Google is okay with them staying at home.

Google is gunning for Waze’s incredible social traffic service and navigation tools, to add to their already impressive Maps app. Google will allow Waze to continue running as normal and will sample and share technologies with the group.

This would be yet another big acquisition by Google and their third acquisition over $1 billion, behind YouTube, DoubleClick and Motorola Mobility. It would also be another $1 billion acquisition for a young Internet startup, following Instagram and Tumblr.

Google Considers Waze Acquisition

Bloomberg reports that Google is considering making an acquisition offer for mapping company Waze. Numerous reports over the past few weeks have claimed that Facebook is also eyeing an acquisition of the maps firm.

Google Inc. (GOOG), maker of the Android operating system, is considering buying map-software provider Waze Inc., setting up a possible bidding war with Facebook Inc., people familiar with the matter said. Waze is fielding expressions of interest from multiple parties and is seeking more than $1 billion, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The Palo Alto, California-based startup might also remain independent, instead seeking to raise a round of venture capital financing, the people said.

Waze’s price-tag is current said to be around $1 billion.

Google’s potential bid would likely create a bidding war with the Menlo Park-based social network. Bloomberg reiterates that Apple is not in discussions with Waze. Rumors from earlier this year claimed that Apple was eyeing an acquisition, but many of those claims were immediately debunked. 

Turn-By-Turn Navigation Added To Maps In iOS 6

Yesterday at WWDC, Apple showed off iOS 6 for the first time, and we've got everything you need to know about iOS6. You'll find a brand new Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation, shared Photo Streams, new FaceTime features, and much more. iOS 6 was available for developers as of yesterday.

Apple launched its own Maps app in conjunction with iOS 6, and one of the new highlight features is turn-by-turn navigation. In addition to the standard turn-by-turn directions, and a "Quick Route" button on search results, you'll also be able to get directions from Siri. You can tell Siri where to navigate you, or even ask "are we there yet?" and find out how long it'll be before you arrive. Everything works from the lock screen, too. There's a persistent ETA at the top of the screen, and has a look and feel much more elegant than any existing GPS software we've seen before. It's all baked into Apple's new mapping system, one of the biggest announcements from today's WWDC keynote.

LightSquared Preparing For Bankruptcy Protection Filing Tomorrow

Seemingly destined-to-fail LightSquared just might be out of options. After getting a high-five from Sprint and plenty of attention for its initiatives in bringing yet another wireless option to America, those blasted GPS interference issues or "supposed" issues, depending on who you ask eventually became too much to overcome. According to a breaking report out of The Wall Street Journal, Philip Falcone's venture is seriously teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, as "negotiations with lenders to avoid a potential default faltered," according to the ever-present "people familiar with the matter." Purportedly, the two sides have until 5PM tomorrow to strike a deal that'll keep the firm out of bankruptcy court (if you'll recall, it owes over $1.6 billion dollars to various entities), but given just how far apart these sides remain, its fate seems all but sealed. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more, but don't go placing bets on yet another debt-term violation waiver.

TomTom Announces Partnership With RIM

TomTom today announced that Research In Motion is using TomTom’s award winning real-time traffic services for BlackBerry applications. BlackBerry Traffic is now powered by TomTom HD Traffic, giving customers access to the most accurate,comprehensive and up-to-date traffic information on the market. Additionally, TomTom maps and location content is used in BlackBerry Maps, and for BlackBerry Locate Services, which gives 3^rd party software developers access to the mapping and traffic information for their own apps.

“TomTom’s market-leading real-time traffic information will provide BlackBerry customers with the best mobile travel experience.”

“Through our strategic relationship with RIM, we are enabling the future of mobile travel with powerful location content and real-time information, including HD Traffic,” said Nuno Campos, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for TomTom Licensing. “TomTom’s market-leading real-time traffic information will provide BlackBerry customers with the best mobile travel experience.”

“We’re thrilled to work with TomTom to leverage their industry-leading traffic and travel content for BlackBerry Traffic and BlackBerry Maps, and to enable access to those capabilities for BlackBerry developers as well,” said Martyn Mallick, Vice President, Global Alliances and BusinessDevelopment at Research In Motion.

According to a recent study, TomTom’s traffic information saves commuters 50 minutes of travel time per week or approximately 40 hours per year. With HD Traffic, BlackBerry customers will be able to select the best route to their destinations in an effort to not only save time but also fuel.

Government Says LightSquared’s 4G LTE Network Will Always Interfere With GPS

In a memo released on Friday, the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Executive Committee said the nine federal agencies that make up the body have concluded unanimously that none of LightSquared’s proposals would overcome the network’s interference with GPS technologies. The announcement comes as a crushing blow for the startup, which is looking to build an LTE network with the company’s 1600MHz frequency. Preliminary testing last year showed that LightSquared’s planned network interfered with GPS. After a handful of rebuttals, changes, and more testing, the government has decided to pull the plug and request no further testing. The Federal Aviation Administration also concluded the network would interfere with aircraft safety systems.”Based upon this testing and analysis, there appear to be no practical solutions or mitigations that would permit the LightSquared broadband service, as proposed, to operate in the next few months or years without significantly interfering with GPS. As a result, no additional testing is warranted at this time,” the memo said. LightSquared slammed the decision, claiming the agency has a biased agenda that is in favor of the GPS industry. Late last year, LightSquared reiterated that the GPS industry is at fault and itdemanded approval from the FCC to begin deploying its network.