Software adapts Google Maps' API for commercial customers.
Press Release Summary:
Hosted Pushpin LE allows commercial developers to create browser-based Google-style map applications without licensing and other restrictions. Developers or end-users can create geographical visualizations of complex data, as well as advanced mapping functions such as location searching, graphical pin markers, and information bubble annotations supporting text and images. Maps can be created and viewed from any standard web browser without application installation.
Original Press Release:
Placebase Adapts Google Maps' API for Commercial Customers
Placebase's Pushpin LE Offers Google Maps Style Maps Without Commercial Restrictions
SAN FRANCISCO, April 3 / -- Placebase, Inc. today announced the launch of Pushpin LE, the first Google style online mapping solution designed to bring the benefits of Google Maps to diverse commercial applications. Pushpin LE (http://www.pushpin.com/) is a turnkey hosted mapping solution that allow commercial developers to create high-quality, browser-based map applications quickly and easily without the licensing and other restrictions imposed by Google Maps.
In order to speed and simplify the development of map applications, Pushpin LE has embraced the Google Maps application programming interface (API), which has become a de facto standard among developers. To satisfy the needs of commercial customers for Google-style maps, Pushpin LE also provides services and features not available from Google such as help desk support, non-branded or customer-branded maps, and licensing for any application.
"Over the past eight months, Google Maps has become a popular hobbyist platform for creating Web based map applications because of its easy API, groundbreaking look and feel and hobbyist-friendly license terms," said Jaron Waldman, CEO of Placebase. "Many professional developers searching for a mapping solution have been eyeing Google's offering, but have been held back by licensing restrictions and lack of technical support. Pushpin LE offers them Google Maps capabilities without legal 'gotchas' and brand pollution."
As pioneered by Google Maps, Pushpin LE's dragging and zooming is fast and smooth, requiring no page refresh. Similar to Google Maps, Pushpin LE's map images are pre-rendered at very high quality and cached for quick serving from Placebase's servers.
Maps and mapping applications created with Pushpin LE allow developers or end-users to create geographical visualizations of complex data, enhancing decision making in many fields, including real estate and sales. Pushpin LE enables developers to create advanced mapping functions such as location searching, graphical pin markers, and "information bubble" annotations supporting text and images.
By implementing a familiar API, Pushpin LE allows developers already working with Google Maps to quickly and easily commercialize their applications. Developers who are not familiar with the Google Maps API can take advantage of books and Web resources already published about Google Maps.
While Google Maps requires that all applications be open to the general public, Pushpin LE allows applications to be developed for paid maps or private, internal corporate use.
Like all hosted Web based services, Pushpin LE is easy to deploy and administer. Maps can be created and viewed from any standard Web browser without installation of applications or plug-ins.
Pushpin LE extends Google Maps capabilities in several important ways that make it a preferred choice for commercial applications:
No branding from other companies
o Add only the branding customers want (contrasted with the Google logo on Google API maps)
o No advertising is or will ever be served with results
o Maps are customizable
No limits
o Private internal (walled garden) applications are okay
o Paid subscription uses are permitted
o No ceiling on number of maps served
o Geocode addresses on-the-fly
No unexpected changes
o No API changes that could affect deployed applications
A company oriented squarely toward commercial applications
o Help-desk support
o Service level agreement
o Standard service-provider relationship
In the near future, Placebase will be extending the Pushpin LE API with advanced GIS features such as data-driven map shading. Businesses that wish to harness such advanced capabilities immediately can elect to work with the company's more advanced Pushpin CX solution.
Customers can begin using Pushpin LE immediately by contacting Placebase. The introductory tiered pricing of the service starts at $1,600 for 150,000 transactions/month.
Since its founding in 2001, Placebase, Inc. has been creating hosted platforms that display highly sophisticated interactive maps in ordinary Web browsers. The company's customers represent both small and large organizations, including UCLA and the Brookings Institution. Placebase is an ongoing developer of Fannie Mae Foundation's DataPlace(TM), the most feature-rich mapping application currently available on the Web (www.dataplace.org). More information about Placebase can be found at www.placebase.com.
