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The following plugin for SocialEngine uses Google Maps for proximity searches, maps, etc.
http://www.socialengine.net/customize/mod-page?mod_id=211&mod=Google-Map--Locations-Plugin
Additional Note: The website will also be using a directory plugin.
Is it necessary to purchase a commercial Google Maps API key for this kind of activity? Somebody suggested that a Google Maps API key was going to cost a lot of money, and for a starter business this wouldn't be possible.
Plugins do not tend to mention this, but I am led to believe that there may be an issue here.
Google Maps API is free for all non-commercial and commercial use, and you can use it in your commercial site:
if you keep the default Google branding
and if the map will be public to anyone
You need to buy a special key if you are planning to use the map in private or sell map products that will be for private use only.
You can find the information you need in the Google Maps/Google Earth APIs Terms of Service and via the FAQ. Specifically, search the FAQ page for the Q&A "Can I use the Google Maps API on a commercial website?"
Essentially, as long as your site isn't getting super high traffic, you should be fine with the free level of service.
There is news on the way Google executes its license ... We just have been contacted by Google and were told that selling a Maps API Implementation to a customer requires a OEM License. This is regardless wether you charge a one time fee or a recurrent fee. This is regardless if you operate the Maps API Implementation on your own server or on the customers server. This was new to me and I did not read that from the license texts.
So, if I interpret this correctly and if you are planning to subcontract a plugin for your website from another company (aka a Maps API Implementation), the other company should have a Google Maps OEM License and will charge you for API Traffic using that plugin. This seems not to apply if you are using a public-domain plugin or a plugin developed in house.
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I am currently developing a software using google maps API, it states that the google API is going to be disabled on January 29th, 2016, does this mean i am waisting my time?
https://developers.google.com/maps-engine/
It means that your software product will not be usable after that date. Whether or not you are wasting your time is dependent on when and for how long you require your software to be functional. However keep in mind that this is the Google Maps Engine API and not the Google Maps API (as the wording in your question refers to).
I'm currently developing a small webpage for a customer where i need a simple map with pins. It's really basic usage and the customer is going to hit the page maybe 50-100 times/month, what is a good service price-wise? I have tried contacting google, bing, and two local (swedish) providers, but the customer service is.. not good...
Your problem is that you say it's an "internal" project - I assume this means that it's not hosted on a publicly-accessible webpage?
For non-public sites, both Google and Bing require you to take out an enterprise licence agreement, which is normally prohibitively expensive for small businesses. (Licences are individually-negotitated, but think of the order of $10,000 per annum).
Alternatively, you could look at using the Leaflet JS map control (http://leaflet.cloudmade.com), displaying data from open street map (http://osm.org) - both of which are free and open source (and, in many cases, have higher quality data than either Bing or Google anyway)
ask about the new Bing Maps CRM licensing thats available, it may well meet your needs and be cost effective for you
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When I create web site for some company and I add little map with position of the company on the map is it still free or I have to pay some money? And what about bigger map with multiple markers and additional informations? Do I have to pay some money when I sell this map within a web site? Thank you.
It is free but not for resale.
9. License Requirements. Google's licenses above are subject to your
adherence to the following requirements:
9.1 Free, Public Accessibility to Your Maps API Implementation.
9.1.1 General Rules.
(a) Free Access (No Fees). Your Maps API Implementation must be
generally accessible to users without charge and must not require a
fee-based subscription or other fee-based restricted access. This rule
applies to Your Content and any other content in your Maps API
Implementation, whether Your Content or the other content is in
existence now or is added later.
(b) Public Access (No Firewall). Your Maps API implementation must not
(i) operate only behind a firewall; or (ii) only on an internal
network (except during the development and testing phase); or (iii) in
a closed community (for example, through invitation-only access).
9.1.2 Exceptions.
(a) Enterprise Agreement with Google. The rules in Section 9.1.1 (Free
Access, Public Access) do not apply if you have entered into a
separate written agreement with Google (such as a Google Enterprise
agreement) or obtained Google's written permission.
(b) Mobile Applications. The rule in Section 9.1.1(a) (Free Access)
does not apply if your Maps API Implementation is used in a mobile
application that is sold for a fee through an online store and is
downloadable to a mobile device that can access the online store.
9.1.3 Examples.
(a) You can require users to log in to your Maps API Implementation if
you do not require users to pay a fee.
(b) You can charge a fee for your Maps API Implementation if it is an
Android application downloadable to mobile devices from the Android
Market.
(c) If you are a consultant who creates or hosts Maps API
Implementations for third party customers, you may charge such
customers a fee for your consulting or hosting services (but not for
the Maps API Implementations themselves, except as permitted under
Section 9.1.2 (Exceptions)).
Why not read the Terms of service from the product, rather than ask here?
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/index.html
I want to know if anyone who has experience of using both the Google Maps API and the Multimap API can give a good reason as to why one is better than the other - or maybe a list of pros and cons?
I will be working on a complete re-development of a site which currently uses the Multimap (Classic) API and want to consider the possibility of using Google Maps API instead of Multimap (now MS Bing), but I need a compelling reason to justify this decision.
The site currently provides a search mechanism allowing users to search for addresses using postcode/partial postcode or city. The current system has a sqlserver database back-end containing full address details and also uploads (geocodes this information to Multimap with a daily scheduled task). I'm wondering if it's possible with the Google API to avoid the need for the daily upload and just use it's geocoding API instead (though this is limited by Google's restriction of a certain number of geocoding requests per day).
In my experience using the two, Bing Maps are more accurate with regards to their geocaching, but Google have slightly nicer looking Road Maps.
The Google Maps API is slightly more helpful - for example, if you have 2 markers, the map automatically zooms out to the right level, Bing takes a bit more work.
Aerial maps look pretty much the same on both, as do the Hybrid maps.
My advice would be - use Bing maps for geocaching, then if you want really nice looking road maps, use Google. If you're using Aerial, Hybrid or Birdseye view, you might as well stick with Bing.
According to Wikipedia Multimap was purchased by Microsoft some years ago and its direction features were merged into the Microsoft Bing api. I suppose the Multimap API primarily exists for legacy purposes. By the end of 2010 multimap might disappear, so this is definitely a compelling reason to re-write the geocoding part of your app...
In any case I would contact Multimap how long they plan to support their API and if there is a migration path (probably to bing maps).
Bing Maps as well as Google Maps now offer real-time geocoding services over Javascript (see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff710027.aspx for an example in bing). Which one to pick? Check the terms of usage and the costs of the geocoding requests per day.
Yes skip the old legacy Multimap and use Google Maps or Bing Maps. Both are in active competition and under active development. So one might be better in one area for a few months but the chances are it will change. Eg. Bing Maps was the first with multi-touch support (using Silverlight) but Google Maps now supports it with its v3 API. (unfortunately all but the most basic map overlays will crash Google Maps multi-touch apps crash with the most widely available multi-touch platform: Safari on the iPad/iPhone).
At the moment I think Bing Maps has the edge, but at the end of the day your decision is probably going to be subjective (those maps look nicer / I find the API slightly nicer / etc), or depending on the exact wording of the EULA (ie. do you pay? and how much? for your specific application).
You talked about geocoding. An increasing number of people are looking at using multiple geocoding platforms. Primarily because geocoding coverage of all the services are imperfect, but it also gives you cover if one service goes down.
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Part of what I want to offer subscribers to my application is a map showing the location of their customer, with the option to get directions (the idea is that they can just easily get the directions from one place instead of copying/pasting and going to Google Maps or Mapquest or whichever). As I understand it, however, Google Maps will require me to pay to use their API as my application is only visible to paid subscribers. I've contacted their Sales department to try and see just how much, but honestly any amount is too much since my startup is bootstrapped and I have little or no funds for anything.
This has got me looking at alternatives since I don't intend to pay to use a mapping API. Of the available maps, which one would you say is the most reliable as far as locations and directions? I'm considering Bing maps (formerly Live Maps) since it looks like I'm going to be using ASP.NET MVC as my platform of choice (Hey, I have a BizSpark membership for another two years - I might as well use it!) but I haven't checked their TOS to see if they have a similar proviso to Google Maps in that you need a special license if the map is only visible to paying customers.
EDIT: I guess what I'm asking is if there is any mapping service that won't charge an arm and a leg to use their mapping service on a paid, password-protected site? I was hoping to make the map integration a major feature of my product, but we're a startup so there's no money for expensive licenses for something like that.
You could use OpenLayers, Mapnik and OpenStreetMap to roll your own maps and direction-finding functionality, or you could talk to Cloudmade to help do this for you. Because the underlying map data is free, I think Cloudmade are much cheaper than Google, Yahoo and Bing for this sort of thing.
To do it on a password protected page with Google Maps API would require a Premier Licence. Each such licence is negotiable, but prices generally start at $10000 p.a.
One possibility to consider is throwing the directions request at maps.google.com in a new browser window or popup. Pass the start and end addresses in the &saddr and &daddr parameters. Or making your own public facing map page and opening that in a popup.
Oh, man. I just developed my own SaaS app and today came across the pricing from Google and Bing - after building in an asp.net framework and using Bing to get map (time/distance) data. Not even using any visual display/scrolling/zooming functionality.
It would be really nice if MSFT, Google, et al would provide SME pricing along with "enterprise" pricing - we are 2 different kinds of businesses. And I'm bootstrapped as well. Hope I am not scr3wed...
SpatialKey http://www.spatialkey.com provides a good solution for SaaS mapping and doesn't tie you into a single mapping provider. Their default is Mapquest but they provide Openstreet maps as well.
I'm very happy with Bing. My company has an enterprise license and it isn't cheap. BUT, they've just announced new licensing (http://www.microsoft.com/maps/resources/news.aspx).
"Free licensing for small Web sites. It’s now even easier to get started with Bing Maps—use is now free for public-facing, non-password protected Web sites with up to 125,000 user sessions per year.*"
So it may be within your reach :)