Blipstar is an easy way to leverage the Google Maps API to offer a map of multiple locations for website visitors from a spreadsheet. It’s a pretty straight up use of the API but it’s notably inexpensive and customizable.
Developed by Worcester, UK GIS lover Paul Clarke, it’s a solid little application and a good example of, as Clarke writes on his blog, the low barrier to entry made possible by APIs.
Excel, DBF, TXT and CSV formated files containing location names and addresses can be uploaded through the web interface, the display can be customized and a pop up map inserted with javascript. It’s marketed as a store locator, but organizations wanting to highlight any types of locations could potentially use the service. Up to 25 locations can be mapped and easily edited for $25 for a year, with prices going up from there. The site claims to far undercut competitors on price and since it’s a hosted service it requires zero technical knowledge to set up and maintain. There’s a 30 day free trial with no credit card required so you can go and check it out for yourself.
There’s nice little touches like an option to have the display use different languages (Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian or English) and the service makes use of the newest developments in the Google API. It will be interesting to see how many of these lightweight but well developed API plays can become commercially viable small businesses.
Now these are the kind of things that are really useful. They indeed make it extremely easy to add an interactive map by just providing an address.
Nice job.
Startups.in/India
(Nag .B)
I’m pretty sure his site says he’s from Worcester in the UK. Just thought I would let you know.
Thanks Brian. Changed it.
This must be the day for new map apps. Sounds like another interesting one to look into.
Over at http://www.mapsack.com we have just added a feature to allow to to embed a map in any webpage. Check out our blog on how to do this: http://www.maps.../06/27/testing/
Very cool Alastair, thanks for the note.
Sorry, to make two comments when one would have done (dont worry, this one is not a plug). But does anyone else think that $25/month is a bit much! I might go off and do the same for $5 /month!
I think Blipstar are selling it on an annual fee basis not monthly?
Am I the only one that thinks selling someone else’s free product is theft or at best extremely dishonest? The Google Maps API already geocodes addresses, and any competent programmer can get one with 25 or less markers up in a heart beat. I guess the whole “upload a file with addresses” thing might be worth $25 a year, but I find it hard to believe that people will pay for something like this.
I just don’t see why this is a “good idea”?
Alastair.. your map mashup is awesome… as for blipstar.. its not hard for an RoR developer to churn out the same thing over 48hrs…and that would mean their service could easily be copied. The only nice part is the upload via excel. I doubt their service would appeal to small businesses. And middle to large size business needs an easy way to up their database, so that’s a smart move on their part.
Is it legal for them to use google map for commercial purposes? What’s Google’s TOS?
Thanks,
This is disturbing. If it has come to the point that things like this are the most worthy of review from TC, this is a bad sign for the Web 2.0 crowd.
The flat files revolutionary in its time and its power is now embellished innovated with mapping apps. Historically, the greatest innovations of any period had their starting because of prior innovations. Welcome to Web 2.0. In Version 2.0, the users control the data.
Shoutblog has a review up as well. Blipstar indeed is a good idea, but they have a few technical issues to work out.
If the maps are hosted on Blipstar’s website, doesn’t that mean they are using the same Google Map Key, hence the customers have not signed an agreement with Google, but with Blipstar?
Also, the API terms of use states that “The Service may be used only for services that are generally accessible to consumers without charge.”
Are not these two examples of a breach of contract?
That’s true that this site can be duplicated in a couple of days by every good programmer, and there are already better and free alternatives to this.
The real interest of this effort will be Google (and TeleAtlas and others) reaction to this. It seems also to me a breach of contract, especially because it involve a paying service!
On the other hand, I’ve tried to contact Google to get their position about request from people that wants to create wireless services based on the available datas, without any reply from them…. (see http://j2memap.landspurg.net)
“Subject to the limitations and conditions described below, You may use the API to display map images in conjunction with other information You provide to end users. The API may be used only for services that are generally accessible to consumers without charge.” – http://www.goog...maps/terms.html
I was under the impression that you can’t use the Google Maps API on a site that charges users. Since the primary income model for blipstar is to charge you for using the app they created using the Google Maps API, I fail to see how this meets the terms of use conditions…
If it’s okay to do such a thing, that’s amazing. Hell, I have three projects on the go right now and I’d love to incorporate this API, however, as stated above, it appears to be against the rules so I’ve avoided it thus far.
Also, I’d heard a rumour though I haven’t found documentation on it that you can only receive up to 50,000 page views per month of the page containing your Google Map. After that I hear they can decide to charge you or discontinue their service.
ALSO, one more thing. All these sites are using google mashups and that’s nice, but it seems that they’re relying heavily on the functionality Google provides. What happens if Google decides to take Maps or Analytics out of beta and charge for the service? What about if they just dropped the projects altogether?
These businesses would be screwed.
Thanks!
Maybe BlipStar does it better or easier, but there are free services out there, that may even offer more functionality and features.
I’ve used http://www.mapbuilder.net to mash-up a great map of Toronto, Canada’s live music venues… http://TorontoL...lubs/clubs.html
Since you can fill the balloons with links, I include links to the venues’ web sites and links to their event calendars. So, whether you’re a local or a tourist, you can find your fix of rock, punk, jazz or blues quickly and easily.
I think MapBuilder is a one-man operation, but he’s doing a great job adding functionality as fast as users ask for it. I built my map one address at a time (manually), but you can now import tables as BlipStar does. The number of loactions is unlimited.
Finally, you can have your code where you want it.. your PC, your hosting service or MapBuilder’s servers.
In short, I wouldn’t rush into a paid service, when a better, unlimited one is available for free. I don’t think MapBuilder is unique either. It does the trick for me, but I think there are lots more free ones out there.
Charles
In light of these comments blipstar is now free!
OMG, you’ve got to be kidding. Well I guess that clears up the question of your relationship with the TOS and API, huh.
The subscription was meant to cover bandwidth/storage costs as opposed to the mapping side of things but some people have obviously interpreted it differently. The idea was more an experiment and never meant to break the TOS, so making it free removes all doubts.
A variation on this I [a person who can think of plenty of ideas for existing technology but has not a clue on how to develop it] would love to see is the exact same idea but instead of stores make it work for toruing bands, so I can enter my band’s upcoming shows in it and fans get a map showing upcoming dates, click on an icon to find out venue, time, price, other bands, whatever else you want.
Please ignore that last message, since looking a few months ago, seems all kinds of mash-ups and sites, options to do just that have appeared.
Cheers!