Israeli start-up Waze aims to revolutionize the GPS and GIS services for mobile using you. Waze is a GPS client that lets users navigate and view maps just like any other service. They also provide the users to record new roads (in case the maps are not updated), to report traffic jams, accidents, police cars, speed cameras, and other warnings that are shared online with fellow drivers.
Every session is recorded and transmitted to the company servers so they can report the information to other drivers and also to recalculate routes and arrival times in real-time to drivers that may be affected by the information received.
The concept of the service is really nice, the usability and UI are also very practical but when you use the service, it is not without problems.

Maps – maps lack different details occasionally like circles, small streets and even small villages. There are streets with mixed up names and facilities that do not appear in the program’s address data. Another significant issue is the inaccuracy of the streets numbers.
A destination on a long street can bring the user to another point on that street which is several kilometers from where he navigated to.
In newer versions, there is an option to report about numbering problems but after reporting, we saw no change even after a month.

Traffic reporting – When a traffic jam is reported, the system adds it to the map.
There are many times you can see that there are traffic jams 2 hours after the jams disappeared or even reports of a traffic jam of 200 meters for a minute because of a traffic light. The system encourages drivers to report and they do, too much in our opinion.
The lack of an automatic system to clear irrelevant reporting is also apparent.

Meta information – the program doesn’t include information about restaurants, café, and other facilities you would expect a navigation software will have. The lack of such information requires users to get specific addresses on the internet prior to the planned drive which makes the process very cumbersome in some cases.

User feedback – algorithm bugs can be found many times in junctions where the program directs you to turn right and then left instead of going forward, taking you through very small and slow streets instead of a logical way, and other issues that can cause you lose your way or valuable time.
It is very strange that the company did not provide a way for its community to report such errors on site for them to check and fix in later releases. Such an option is a must have if the company plans to move out of Israel to much bigger countries with much more complicated roads.

Our summary to the service is that it is a very refreshing breeze to the navigation services but that the client and the concept should get a significant development in order to attract the audience and get them use the service regularly.

Calcalist, an Israeli financial newspaper, published that Modu’s employees were asked to deposit their Nokia phones and start using the new modu devices from the actual production line that is used for the launch.
After the many issues with the different operators, Modu will supposedly launch their device with several basic jackets this month in Israeli operator Cellcom.
Modu refused to comment an action which raises suspicion.
We are sure they are very cautious after the previous disappointments but it was said that Modu will do the advertisement for the launch and no TV or newspapers ads were seen yet.

[update 07.14.2009] We got information of “the launch” and here are the full details:

• Next week Modu will have their a closed launch party for Modu employees only.
• The launch will be a soft launch with no advertisement at all on either side Cellcom nor Modu.
• The devices will not be marketed and only a limited number of devices will be introduced as quite as they can do it.
• No information about the pricing of the device.

The information also published on TheMarker which also added that Modu signed a distribution agreement with a Philippine entity for approximately 38$ Million US.

Now that is the meaning of being cautious after you got burnt too many times. We wish them good luck and hope to get the first 3G touch devices they release.

Modu, the tiny 40.1 grams mobile device will hit the market in a month time, if there will be no more delays.
Today, Israeli newspaper published more information about Modu’s investors and that modu has approximately raised 85-95 million dollars with a recent post round 10 Million investment from a European investor.
But all of this pales to the next item: a new modu based on a touch screen is under development and in 8 months, the development will be over.

             The New Modu?(updated)

When the Modu was first announced it seemed that it will revolutionize the mobile market, or at less will create a new form factor of mobile device, rather than the standard ones.
The main concept was that the cheap modu device will be the heart of a simple phone and the jackets will turn it to a feature phone. Time went by, we learnt that the cheap device will not be so cheap, it will not have a 3G connectivity, and that operator after operator delayed or cancelled the launch of the device.
When most of the world is becoming more “smart” Modu will be the ultimate feature phone that can be changed from a music beast to a sms machine for just 25-100 dollars, the 2.5G chip can prove my point.
Now, It seems like they start to change their strategy. Now, that’s not what the guys at Modu think, touch screen is the next modu(le). So it is not so simple anymore.

That is all nice and modern but what will happen to the “old” modu, the device that will be sold in less than 30 days?
Who will buy  a device when a new model is waiting at the corner, moreover will the “old” jackets be supported by the new Modu?
The consumers (and us) will ask those questions before buying the device, we hope Modu thought about it as well and will have the answers.

Update: Engadget posted a picture of (as it seems) the new Modu device

It is not hard to see that a war broke in Gaza and in the south of Israel.
Wars and other events like elections (latest elections in the US and the coming elections, here, in Israel)  have a great impact on the media.
The TV, the Internet, and the mobile enjoy from the popularity of these events and from the demand of the public to get updated all the time.
Back to the present war in Gaza, the internet is taking a crucial  part and in UGC (User Generated Content) sites like youtube and twitter the war appears in many videos and posts, partly news and partly propaganda. The war is also present in the virtual world.
Moreover, the IDF spokesman understand the power of those tools and opened its own account .
But I would like to take a quick look at the Israeli mobile market in the current War.
First of all there are SMS services, SMS is still the most common simple way to get the updates, news sites use SMS to send updates on a daily basis on the events in a subscription based services.
Next are the carriers websites who opened a special channel for residents that live in the south, the sites contain information about the nearest shelters, information and guidance form the HFC (Home Front Command) and free past time activities.
The news section broadcasts hourly news flash and live broadcasts in special occasion via 3G connection.
TV stations also created video portals based on IVVR technology.
Ugunduzi published in their blog [IVVR Services] a post named “IVVR News” where they state that in Israeli channel 10′s IVVR portal ” thousands of IVVR calls were handled in just a few hours” using promotion that is done during the news on TV in a text scroller on the bottom of the screen.
We hope that peace will soon come to the region and that mobile users will consume happier news.