Google Map update brings real-time incident reports

Google has tapped into the technology it acquired when it purchased Waze in June to bring users of Google Maps real-time traffic updates.

Google has tapped into the technology it acquired when it purchased Waze in June to bring users of Google Maps real-time traffic updates.

Waze is an interactive system that uses reports from its community of users to provide real-time information on the traffic and road situation. The company was acquired by Google back in June and has now been put to use into Google Maps in an update to the app.

Following a beta test Google has rolled out an update to Google Maps that will let mobile users benefit from traffic reports covering everything from road accidents to closures and delays caused by construction, among many other things.

This means that users of Google Maps on a mobile device will see relevant updates on traffic as reported by Waze users appear on their Google Maps app.

Waze users will also benefit from improved search results on the app, thanks to the inclusion of Google Street View and Google Search, enabling Waze users to find local addresses and businesses with greater ease.

These updates to Google Maps appear across iOS and Android in the following countries from August 20: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, the UK and the US.