Thursday, July 5, 2012

MapQuest Aims At Google With Free Maps API

Denver-based MapQuest is looking to attract more web and application developers to the firm's application programming interfaces (APIs), after a high profile stumble by Google in the maps API area. According to MapQuest, it is offering free, unlimited maps for both online and mobile apps, with no usage limits, which is a stark contrast to the recent moves by Google to start charging expensive fees for access to that firm's mapping APIs. MapQuest, in a post aimed at map developers, said developers can sign up for a "Community Edition" license to get access to its free mapping data. Google has raised the hackles of some developers in recent months, after it told developers that it would start charging for access beyond certain limits; Google has since relaxed its strict limits on map loads, but not before causing many developers to start looking elsewhere for their online mapping needs.