Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • IT Management

    Google, Yahoo Woo Developers to Online Maps

    Written by

    Matthew Hicks
    Published June 29, 2005
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Google and Yahoo have opened a new front in their online mapping battle: winning over developers.

      Both companies on Wednesday released APIs into their respective online mapping services as they attempt to attract other Web sites to use their maps.

      While they are focusing on how developers can overlay information on maps, the companies are taking different technical approaches.

      Google is targeting developers who want to embed its maps into their sites using JavaScript, while Yahoo is focused on tapping RSS for the creation of custom maps that continue to reside on the Yahoo Maps site.

      Competition among online map services has become increasingly intense this year after Google entered the space and as attention has turned to more closely tying maps with local search.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifClick here to read more about the war of the “worlds” growing between Google and Microsoft.

      For its API, Google Inc. is offering a toolkit for developers who want to create applications that interact with the Google Maps system.

      The Google Maps API works in conjunction with Googles street maps and not the satellite images built into the service, a Google spokesman said.

      While the Mountain View, Calif., company wouldnt offer details, it hinted at the possibility of inserting ads within the maps on other sites. The maps also will include a Google logo and link to the Google Maps site.

      Yahoo, of Sunnyvale, Calif., is letting developers layer geographic content such as weather reports, school district boundaries and vacation photos onto its maps.

      The Yahoo Maps API uses the GeoRSS format in order for developers to add geographic content onto a map, said Jeremy Kreitler, a Yahoo senior product manager.

      “Were trying to encourage people to bring online as much local information as possible, and one of the barriers to people doing that is having to learn a specific way to talk to software or to build applications themselves,” Kreitler said.

      Yahoo also has created an extension to GeoRSS that can understand street addresses as an alternative to providing the latitude and longitude coordinates typically required in GeoRSS, Kreitler said.

      The Yahoo Maps API extends a technology Yahoo calls SmartView to developers. Yahoo already uses SmartView to add its own content, such as local-search listings and traffic information, on top of Yahoo Maps, Kreitler said.

      In other online maps news this week:

      • Google officially released Google Earth on Tuesday, its promised revamp and renaming of the Keyhole aerial mapping software.

      Google is offering both a free download of the software as well as a $20 premium version that adds GPS compatibility, data import and annotation features.

      • MSN took another step toward releasing its aerial maps service called MSN Virtual Earth.

      The Internet division of Microsoft Corp. announced a partnership on Wednesday with ORBIMAGE Holdings Inc. to add global satellite imagery to Virtual Earth when it becomes available later this summer.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, views and analysis on enterprise search technology.

      Matthew Hicks
      Matthew Hicks
      Matt Hicks covers the fast-changing developments in Internet technologies. His coverage includes the growing field of Web conferencing software and services. With over eight years as a business and technology journalist, Matt has gained insight into the market strategies of IT vendors as well as the needs of enterprise IT managers. Along with Web conferencing, he follows search engines, Web browsers, speech technology and the Internet domain-naming system.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×