This is definitely good news: Yahoo! Maps API, now for commercial use too (by Jeremy Zawodny). On the other hand, Google provides far superior (IMHO) satellite images especially for this part of the world (i.e. Singapore), hasn’t made the distinction between commercial and non-commercial. To quote:
“The Service may be used only for services that are generally accessible to consumers without charge.”
What this means is that you’ll hopefully be seeing a mashup of Google maps and Singapore information pretty soon, maybe on corporate websites. Imagine if you use satellite photos on your site to allow users to map directions from their home to your office.
Best of all, it’d be free, as long as you’re providing it free to end-users.
The only pity is that StreetDirectory.com should follow suit, but I understand the revenue pressures that offering their maps for free would entail (who could forget the lawyer letters). Here’s hoping for the day when Singapore tech startups have the kahunas and cash to offer the same thing to users everywhere!.
technorati tags:singapore, mashups, technology
