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.
Related
Currently, I'm working on a Mapping Project , and I'd like to know if there's a way to know how many lanes in a single road (same direction), using one of Maps API, like google map. Because at the end I have to display if a lane is blocked, which kind of vehicles can go on a lane, and also the speed limit. But for now I just need to display the number of lanes.
For my application, I'm using Xamarin and Xamarin.forms.maps to display the map and also the Plugin.geolocator for some geolocation informations.
This feature has been requested in the Issue Tracker of Google Maps APIs. However, the request has been rejected as it will violate the compliance of the Google Maps Platform Terms of Service.
They said in the request:
Unfortunately, exposing this in the Directions API would encourage use
of the Maps APIs in ways that would not be in compliance with the
Google Maps/Google Earth APIs Terms of Service at
https://developers.google.com/maps/terms#10-license-restrictions
10.4 Restrictions on Unfair Exploitation of the Service and Content.
c. Restrictions on your Maps API Implementations.
iii: No navigation. You will not use the Service or Content for or in
connection with (a) real-time navigation or route guidance; or (b)
automatic or autonomous vehicle control.
You may check the Feature Request here.
This is only applicable to Google Maps Platform, I'm not sure though with other Maps provider. Hope this helps.
When using the google maps static API service, all my requests are showing up as a 403 Forbidden. When taking a look at my request, I notice this error message: "The Google Maps API server rejected your request. This service requires an API key."
The code that is calling the service is below:
<img src="http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=Albany,+NY&zoom=13&scale=false&size=600x300&maptype=roadmap&format=png&visual_refresh=true" alt="Google Map of Albany, NY">
I've used the static map service before and it worked fine and easily. But for some reason, all my requests show up as a 403 now? I've never had to use an API key in the past. If I do use an API key with this call, it works.
What is going on here?
The Google Static Maps API now requires a key (as of June 22, 2016), existing applications should be "grandfathered" with keyless access. See this blog post for more information (relevant text below):
As of June 22, 2016 we are making the following changes to the Google Maps APIs Standard Plan:
We no longer support keyless access (any request that doesn't include an API key). Future product updates are only available for requests made with an API key. API keys allow us to contact developers when required and help us identify misbehaving implementations.
We have implemented a simple 25,000 map loads per day free limit to new Google Maps JavaScript API, Static Maps API, and Street View Image API implementations. The confusing 90-consecutive-day grace period for these APIs is being retired on October 12, 2016. With this change, developers can predictably plan for growth while media sites and US nonprofits can request more quota at no charge via our dedicated support programs.
We have reduced the daily map load maximum limit you can purchase for Google Maps JavaScript API, Static Maps API, and Street View Image API from 1,000,000 to 100,000 requests per API.* We believe higher-volume developers are best served with a Premium Plan license, which includes technical support and a Service Level Agreement, and with this change we've also created consistency between Standard Plan quotas across our maps and web service APIs.
We now count Google Maps JavaScript API client-side requests towards the daily limit of the associated web service API.*
The new policies will apply immediately to all Maps API implementations created on or after June 22nd, 2016.
Existing applications have been grandfathered based on their current usage to ensure that they continue to function both now and in the future. We will also be proactively contacting all existing API key users who, based on usage growth patterns, may be impacted in the future. If you’re an existing user, please take the time to read our Policy Update for Standard Plan summary for details on how each of these changes might affect your implementation.
I'd like to create a web app something like Zillow.com but not in the US. I'm wondering if I can use the Google Maps API for free for that and if not, what are cheap alternatives to get me started? Thank you in advance!
You can use OpenStreetMap in commercial products. All you have to do is quote them as the source of your map data.
You can find the detailed license information here: http://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright
You can use the Google Maps API for free if your maps api implementation is publicly available (free). If not, you must purchase a Google Maps API for Business License.
The following is taken from the free Google Maps API license:
(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
operate (i) 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).
If the Google Maps licenses won't work for you, you could use OpenStreetMap.
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
What is the most suitable map API for vehicle tracking and fleet management service?
FYI, from Google map terms of service-
License restricted for- (c) dispatch, fleet management, business asset tracking, or similar enterprise applications (the Google Maps APIs can be used to track assets (such as cars, buses or other vehicles) as long as the tracking application is made available to the public without charge. For example, you may offer a free, public Maps API Implementation that displays real-time public transit or other transportation status information. If your Maps API Implementation is deployed internally or you are charging for use of your Maps API Implementation, please contact the Google Maps API Premier sales team for more information);
I am not comfortable with this clause. Do I need to pay if I integrate google map in my tracking application where users are supposed to pay for the tracking data storage and service?
This may interest you:
Microsoft Maps API:
http://www.microsoft.com/maps/developers/web.aspx
Yahoo Maps API:
http://developer.yahoo.com/maps/
Do I need to pay if I integrate google map in my tracking application where users are supposed to pay for the tracking data storage and service?
Yes, that's what it says.
Contact Google and get a quote. For another use we got a quote that was quite reasonable -- your use might be more expensive.