4 ms·

This has an MBA-in-charge smell about it. I'm not certain how many GMap implementations there are that exceed a 25k/day load, but my back-of-the-napkin guessti

This has an MBA-in-charge smell about it. I'm not certain how many GMap implementations there are that exceed a 25k/day load, but my back-of-the-napkin guesstimation is <10% of all sites that use Google Maps. But, those are exactly the sites that I want using my maps, instead of Yahoo or Bing or some other provider. Unless there's something I'm missing, this seems penny-wise and pound-foolish.

untog 15y ago
There's actually not a huge benefit to Google in my site using Google Maps instead of Yahoo Maps. There is a branding benefit for sure, but there are no links to Google services, no ads, or anything like that. I've been wondering for a long time when this would come- the processing (getting directions, geocoding, etc) and bandwidth (for map images) demands must be huge, with comparatively little payback. It'll be interesting to see how many big operations pay up, and how many switch. To an extent switching might be futile- if Google can't afford to keep the maps offering free, do you really think Yahoo can?
- draebek 15y ago
  > I've been wondering for a long time when this would come- the processing (getting directions, geocoding, etc) and bandwidth (for map images) demands must be huge, with comparatively little payback. I'm more thinking about the costs of developing the software and gathering the data. And also the perceived _value_ of the data, independent from its costs. Ever tried to buy the kind of data Google uses on their backend, with terms of use that would support the kind of services Google offers? Good luck--both with terms and then with pricing. Other companies have been charging a fortune for this data. > It'll be interesting to see how many big operations pay up, and how many switch. To an extent switching might be futile- if Google can't afford to keep the maps offering free, do you really think Yahoo can? Regardless of whether they can, with Google pulling back, don't you think Yahoo et al. will want to raise their prices?
- 7952 15y ago
  Don't forget the cost of the actual data. Remote sensing satellites are not cheap. Google Maps is heavily dependant on a few companies who provide the bulk of the data.
  - rmc 15y ago
    They have driven cars around nearly all the roads in several countries taking photos of everything... They could use that to make better maps.
- rmc 15y ago
  One advantage of Google releasing Google Maps for free was that now everyone & companies got used to having web maps, and hence places started to put their locations on the map (so it'll show up in google maps). There is now a lot more geographical data out there on the web.

untog 15y ago

There's actually not a huge benefit to Google in my site using Google Maps instead of Yahoo Maps. There is a branding benefit for sure, but there are no links to Google services, no ads, or anything like that. I've been wondering for a long time when this would come- the processing (getting directions, geocoding, etc) and bandwidth (for map images) demands must be huge, with comparatively little payback. It'll be interesting to see how many big operations pay up, and how many switch. To an extent switching might be futile- if Google can't afford to keep the maps offering free, do you really think Yahoo can?

draebek 15y ago
> I've been wondering for a long time when this would come- the processing (getting directions, geocoding, etc) and bandwidth (for map images) demands must be huge, with comparatively little payback. I'm more thinking about the costs of developing the software and gathering the data. And also the perceived _value_ of the data, independent from its costs. Ever tried to buy the kind of data Google uses on their backend, with terms of use that would support the kind of services Google offers? Good luck--both with terms and then with pricing. Other companies have been charging a fortune for this data. > It'll be interesting to see how many big operations pay up, and how many switch. To an extent switching might be futile- if Google can't afford to keep the maps offering free, do you really think Yahoo can? Regardless of whether they can, with Google pulling back, don't you think Yahoo et al. will want to raise their prices?
7952 15y ago
Don't forget the cost of the actual data. Remote sensing satellites are not cheap. Google Maps is heavily dependant on a few companies who provide the bulk of the data.
- rmc 15y ago
  They have driven cars around nearly all the roads in several countries taking photos of everything... They could use that to make better maps.
rmc 15y ago
One advantage of Google releasing Google Maps for free was that now everyone & companies got used to having web maps, and hence places started to put their locations on the map (so it'll show up in google maps). There is now a lot more geographical data out there on the web.