Google nearby Api shutdown - google-contacts-api

I am working on creating a proximity platform for my clients.
Where clients receive push notifications on their mobiles.
I hear that Google is shutting down their google nearby api.
I was also told that google connections & messages perform the same functions, kind of defeats the purpose of shutting down nearby if there is an alternative route. Is this true?
Thanks

It is true but developers can still push proximity based notifications in their own apps using Proximity Beacons API.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2018/10/discontinuing-support-for-android.html

Related

Is there possibility for registering URLs or domains in Google Maps API?

Is there a way to register Authorized URLs in Google Maps via an API?
Currently, I am manually adding URLs through the Google Maps Support portal, but I would like to be able to make an API call when a customer submits a new domain to my service.
Unfortunately, currently there is no way to manage API key restrictions programatically.
There is a feature request in Google issue tracker to make it possible:
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/35829646
Please star this feature request to add your vote and subscribe to notifications, at the moment it has only 6 stars, not enough to increase its visibility.
Update from Google
The best way to handle thousands of authorized domains is to use an API to programmatically manage your API Keys and their restrictions, and we have recently launched a new service that allows you to do this.
This API is still in Alpha. If you are interested in becoming a Trusted Tester for this service, you can use the following form to sign up, please read the instructions carefully:
https://forms.gle/qx2SMcarWCAsbWVp7
Please note that this API is not part of the Google Maps Platform. After you fill out the form, you will be contacted by the API Keys API team with instructions on how to get started, and how to receive support.
API Keys API is currently free of charge. However, please note that use of Cloud Endpoints may be subject to charges at high traffic volume. You can check the pricing sheet here:
https://cloud.google.com/endpoints/pricing-and-quotas

Access Denied when attempting to use Google Maps Geocoding Service with a Console API Key

UPDATE: In an effort to give a more clear question. How do I use the Google Console API key with the Google Maps Geocoding Web Service API? At the moment the request comes back as denied, when I specify the key but even though it failed it is logged in the Google Console API site's reports section.
Original Question
I have an existing app that has been modified to start geocoding address at the time they are entered (for use within the app on a Google Map). The volume expected for this is expcted to be within the free offering's limites and does not require a key at this time. However now I have to geocode all of the existing addresses. I have a small windows app (C#) that will loop through them one at a time, request they be geocoded (via https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json) and store the results in the database. However I keep running into the query limit. To help alleviate this I've setup an account on Google API Console (https://code.google.com/apis/console/) so that I get go over the limit and just be billed for the overages.
The problem is in order to do utilize this billing alternative I have to provide a Console API Key to the request, but every time I do so I get a response back with a status of REQUEST_DENIED.
My URL looks like this
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=1600+Amphitheatre+Parkway,+Mountain+View,+CA+94043&sensor=false&key=123abc
If I take off the key it works fine, but with it on it fails. Now, I have seen other questions similar to this when looking around but can find no answer to the issue.
I've tried various alternate domains including maps.google.com, maps.googleapis.com and maps-api-ssl.google.com all seem to have the same problem from what I can tell.
Here's what I've been able to find out so far:
The service is listed in the Google Console API's site as Google Maps API v3, (there is a separate entry for v2) so I don't think it's a problem with keys no longer being mandatory in v3.
I know the requests are getting through and being correctly logged against this API key because with each failed attempt the request count goes up by one on the Reports tab of the Google APIs Console.
*I know it's not a problem with it not being accessed via a web page because the Console API explicitly lets you generates keys intended for Server/Service use and you can restrict access to them via IP address, not URL Referrer.
*I've also verified the parameter syntax as it's outlined on this page, as are other usage
*These seem to be generic to the Console API system but there is no mention of exceptions to these practices when used for the Google Maps API.
I even tried to contact Google but apparently they don't offer support over the phone (I was hoping to be done with this today but that's not looking likely).
It seems the key is not necessary anymore, since it doesn't increase your limit of free geocodings.
It was a legacy of v2, but geocoding API v2 was fully deprecated last March, 8.
If you need to use more than the free limit, I think you must adquire the Enterprise license.
Regards,
Eduardo.
I ran into this same issue and solved it by enabling the Geocoding API on the Google apis dashboard. Even though I'm using the Google Maps JavaScript API v3, it still required me to enable the Geocoding API as well. Make sure you understand the google's quota limits and billing system before enabling any API access. Hope this helps!
Late to this answer, but just in case anyone else has issue. Billing needs to be setup first and like Dylan said you also have to enable Geocoding API(this got me). At least I did for my locations app that shows multiple store location addresses.

Is the 2,500 request limit for the "Directions Web Service" IP based?

I'm developing an application that uses the "Directions Web Service." The documents state that the free version of the API is limited to 2,500 requests per day. (See http://maps.google.com/help/maps/getmaps/compare.html).
In our application this request is made in javascript on the clients browser, it's not done by our server. So I'm wondering if this limit is per user IP address or somehow it's going to pass along my applications URL/IP and limit based on that.
Any ideas?
Using the Google Maps API v3 Directions Service in the Google Maps API v3 the request limitations and quotas apply per client (IP Address).
Using the Directions Web Service the request limitations and quotas apply to the server (to its IP Address).
I will admit that the link you provided doesn't make it very clear which one they are talking about.

Do Google API keys work with Google Maps web services, e.g. geocoding?

I'm using Google Maps web services to perform server-side (reverse) geocoding.
I've got a browser-side and server-side Google API key from the Google APIs Console, which permits the Google Maps JS API to use higher request quotas, and enables pay-per-use for overages (successfully tested in-browser via JS). But the server-side key doesn't seem to work on web services requests.
For example, this URL works fine:
http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?sensor=true&latlng=43.477329,-80.548601
But if you add a "key=..." parameter, as in the other APIs, I get a REQUEST_DENIED status.
Am I doing something wrong, or is this just not supported on the web services APIs (yet)? Will it be supported in the future?
See also
request_denied when i include key=my_api_key
Nope, you're not doing anything wrong.
Unfortunately, enforcing tight limits on the Google Geocoding API, also called "Server-Side Geocoding", is Google's design. If your app needs more than 2,500 Server-Side Geocodes per day, then you'll need to upgrade to their Google Maps API for Business product.
Hold on, it gets worse.
If your app's server IP address is shared with other apps, that 2,500 request daily limit applies to ALL of them. This includes apps that share the same server IP address as you, but don't belong to you! This can be a common situation with any PaaS, like Google App Engine or Heroku. So, even if your app works flawlessly today, there is no guarantee that it's still going to work tomorrow.
In the article, "Geocoding Strategies", Google indicates the solution is to "almost always" use "Client-Side Geocoding" via the Geocoding Service, part of the Google Maps JavaScript API V3. The primary reason is that limits are enforced per user, per session. Requests like this shouldn't run up against quota limits unless you're executing geocode batches on the client (not a typical use case).
One golden nugget from the "Geocoding Strategies" article: Design a page that takes user input, calls the client-side Geocode service method, then passes that information to your server app where it can be processed, and hopefully cached. This is FAR from ideal, but if upgrading to Google Maps API for Business isn't an option, it might be the only way to go.
Good luck!
According to this post, your API key should work as one of the three option for requests over 25,000 loads per day.
https://developers.google.com/maps/faq#usagelimits

Using GoogleMaps, or Bing pseudo-commercially?

I have an app for which I have extensive use of geocoding, and map plotting. I'd like to make money off it, but not pay the $10k tax since I'm a little guy.
I was thinking about offering the mapping aspects of the app for free, but charge for additional add-ons/features.
Would this be breaking the google licensing?
You can normally use the free Google Maps API if your Maps API implementation is generally accessible to users without charge. You may require users to log in to a section in your website where you would have the Maps API Implementation, but you must not require users to pay a fee. (Google Maps API Terms of Service)
Unless you have entered into a separate written agreement with Google or obtained Google's written permission, your Maps API Implementation must not:
require a fee-based subscription or other fee-based restricted access; or
operate only behind a firewall or only on an internal network (except during the development and testing phase).
In addition you mentioned that your application will use geocoding extensively. Server-side geocoding with the free Maps API has a limit of 15,000 request per IP address per day. (Google Maps API FAQ)
I would suggest getting in touch with Google first, describing your application. They should be able to classify if your application can work within the terms of the free Maps API or not.