[Tloewald]

Presumably this is defense against Apple (or Samsung) getting it.

[dragonwriter]

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.

[technoslut]

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.

[jonknee]

While adding to Google's impressive collection of mapping data. Google has and will continue to make a lot of acquisitions in this space.

[nudded]

I think Tim Cook answered on his D11 interview that they did not make an offer for Waze.