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Could anyone explain what the benefit might be to investing in an open source service like OpenStreetMap? This is a sincere question. [edit] I know that the c
by ballpark 14y ago
Could anyone explain what the benefit might be to investing in an open source service like OpenStreetMap? This is a sincere question.
[edit]
I know that the concept is brilliant, it's a great service, and has great potential. Will investors potentially build chargeable products that use it? Why not just invest more into their product to enhance it?
- tmcw 14y agoCompanies like MapBox, Stamen, MapQuest, and Bing, who have OSM layers, have an incentive to improve OSM data because it makes them competitive with Google; it eliminates the massive fixed/sunk cost of creating proprietary data and redirects the game into how you can use/distribute/mainstream that data. The business models for that are fairly clear; charging for services based on the data.
- ballpark 14y agoMakes sense! I didn't realize those companies use OSM. Thanks.
- ig1 14y agoIt's not an equity investment, it's a grant from a non-profit foundation.
- chippy 14y agoGoogle, for example, charges companies for (lots of) use of it's APIs. Maps and up to date, good quality data costs a lot. Both are good reasons to invest in disruptive technology - to lower the cost in geodata - and to swap to a free mapping service. See http://switch2osm.org http://switch2osm.org for more case studies and information.