Waze unveils Transport SDK for app partners

Waze, the popular social navigation tool owned by Google, has just announced a new Transport SDK that will empower partners to integrate many of the company’s features directly into their own applications.

Waze envisions that other apps will make use of the company’s traffic data to help them offer a turn-by-turn navigation service from within their own app or optimize routes with live information, which are useful tools for profession drivers, along with giving company’s access to useful traffic trends.

The first partner to make use of the new SDK is ride-sharing company Lyft. Lyft is using Waze’s crowd-sourced traffic data to offer more optimal routes between passenger pick-up points and to integrate a seamless transition between the Waze navigation view and the main Lyft app.

Other companies that have announced partnerships include Genesis Pulse, JustPark, Cornershop, Cabify and 99Taxis. The SDK supports partners in any country that Waze currently operates in. The SDK is free to use, which should help the company expand its reach rather easily, but there is an application process to go through before gaining access.