April 4th, 2006
Google eases Map API restrictions
Google released its Maps API version 2, which include faster Javascript download, overlay maps, easier debugging, more map types and no page view limit (over 500K/day give Google some notice so they can prepare to handle the traffic) and a 90-day notice before ad related changes. The more friendly service terms (Google had a restriction of 50,000/day) on transactions seem to respond in part to Placebase’s Pinpoint LE, a commercial alternative to Google Maps that offer its API on per transaction basis (tiered pricing starts at $1,600 for 150,000 transactions/month), but also includes non-branded or customer-branded maps, licensing for any application, service-level agreements and support services. As Jonathan Schwartz likes to say, it’s hard to compete with free.
Dan Farber, editor-in-chief of CNET News.com, has more than 20 years of experience as an editor and journalist covering technology. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
