Last Updated on January 21, 2022

From searching up directions on Google Maps to hailing a taxi via Uber, geolocation apps have become a spine for numerous thriving groups. Various location services became a logical neighborhood of multiple applications. We’re taking advantage of a GPS feature automatically, without thinking: when ordering a taxi, traveling, trying to seek out a neighborhood to dine in, etc. Businesses also consider geolocation a beneficial addition: among others, an organization can send notifications to users who are within the immediate vicinity of their store, restaurant, and so on. To put into all the above APIs for area-primarily based services are required.

Best Map API for Location-Based Mobile Apps (2)

Why Using Location-Based and Mapping Solutions?

These days it isn’t easy to imagine what human beings used to do with paper maps. Fortunately, this era may be a thing of the past, and now we’ve GPS navigation devices and mobile applications at our disposal.

The task of the GPS feature is to detect the present location of the device and update the knowledge because it changes. Then we’ll use such data as we please.

Real-world insights and site intelligence assist you in driving better business decisions. Location intelligence enables enterprises to ascertain data, understand the context and analyze and develop insights.

With visualized data, you’ll determine the thanks to connecting and interacting with customers to provide a seamless experience unique to your end-users. Location-based services help enterprises:

  • Build better customer experiences
  • Optimize company operations
  • Foster strategic deciding by connecting insights that customers couldn’t previously see
  • Location-based services use real-time geo-data from a smartphone to supply information, entertainment, or security.
  • From displaying weather forecasts to recommending restaurants near you, location-based services provide conveniences to several people a day.

There are numerous functions customers pass over or through opting out of place-based offerings. Location-based services aren’t almost maps and travel; in some cases, they assist with security and safety when crime and natural disasters strike.

Location-based services are essential for a spread of reasons. For instance, they tell an Uber driver your location to find you and pick you up. Or, a corporation with multiple locations can suggest specials at the closest store to you. If a climate app is aware of your area, it can show you the weather in your place.

What Is Map API?

A Map API (also referred to as Mapping API) provides location intelligence for software developers creating location-based products and services. It’s a rock bottom building block for location-aware applications, feature-rich maps, and thus retrieving geographic-related data. It allows you to form location-aware infographics, mind maps, and visualization aids.

A typical Map API includes features for geocoding, reverse geocoding, geolocation, directions and navigation, touch-screen interaction, differing kinds of maps (e.g., terrain or satellite), and customizable control objects.

Maps

Builders can customize maps with context- and industry-applicable facts overlay the use of widgets, devices, markers, pics, photos, and popups. Maps are interactive and informative options for textual content. They supply an easy-to-use, cost-effective tool for small businesses ‘ branding and customer engagement.

Data

Software builders use map APIS to retrieve place information, e.g., Proximity information about locations, journeying distances and periods between endpoints, place records, and region-primarily based client trends, to apply in bespoke applications.

Statistics

Researchers use map APIs to identify anomalies in weather patterns, track disease outbreaks in health management programs, plot disaster management grids, and determine ways in customer buying patterns.

Source: Statista

Why Is Google Map API That The One?

The Maps JavaScript API and a few python codes allow you to personalize maps collectively with your content material and imagery for display on websites and mobile gadgets. The Maps JavaScript API and Python codes feature four basic map types (roadmap, satellite, hybrid, and terrain). You’ll modify using layers and styles, controls and events, and various services and libraries.

Important Factors To Think About While Choosing Your Map API

While deciding on a solution for handling your APIs, verify their easy use, manageability, governance, safety, and breadth of features.

A Number Of App Users

During this month, 154.4 million users accessed the Google Maps app, making it far away from the only popular service during this segment.

Pricing

Google Maps Platform offers a free $200 monthly credit for Maps, Routes, and Places (see Billing Account Credits).

Ease Of Use

When finding an API management tool, easy use should be a significant consideration, especially in an enterprise environment where several APIs may need to be controlled and managed. It might help if you evaluate how easy it’s to urge up and running with the solution. No matter its deployment method, like cloud or on-premise, you need to confirm that your chosen tool is uncomplicated to line up.

Hire mobile app developers

Google Map API Alternative

Map Box

If someone recognizes an opportunity once they see it, it’s the team at Map box. As soon as the Google Maps API news broke, Map box CEO Eric Gunderson made a clarion call to developers to hitch his bandwagon. Between now and June 11, any developer who is new to Mapbox can sign up and use all the pay-as-you-go APIs free of charge. You don’t even need to add a MasterCard to start. Just tweet #WeAreBuilders to Mapbox alongside a link to your map.

Sygic Maps

Sygic is an enterprise-grade map-agnostic platform that features Cloud-based maps from HERE, TomTom, OSM, et al. . Though their pricing isn’t available online, they assure us that it’s quite affordable and very transparent, and has helped them garner 200 million users within the last 15 years.

ArcGIS

A set of integrated, location-based apps, that employ wherever you are doing. In your laptop, mobile device, or in your browser, jumpstart your workflows with ArcGIS Apps’ collection of integrated, place-primarily based apps that are capable of work, anyplace you are doing.

LocationIQ

If your project requires geocoding or reverse geocoding, LocationIQ might be an honest alternative. Its exceptional-low-priced pricing version gives you 10,000 loose transactions consistent with day for non-business use, at the same time as for commercial customers, the bestselling plan is that of 50,000 calls according to today for $a hundred. LocationIQ’s facts are powered via OpenStreetMap.

Travel Time Platform

Time period Platform enables any internet site or mobile app with location-specific content (property, jobs, classifieds, directories, dating, vouchers, retailers, and far more). Searching by time period typically doubles the number of relevant results. The time period Platform is exclusive, commercially live across the United Kingdom, and has been successfully tested in most major European countries (and beyond). Journey Time brings the financial, social, and environmental value of GNSS statistics to customers of all of the websites that reference it. The platform is not only an easy app; it’s miles a stop-to-quit answer. It additionally powers several different business evaluation equipment that permit our clients to readily examine their very own information in phrases of the term. This is especially valuable in the logistics industry.

Conclusion

The foremost step to take before stepping into location-based mobile apps development is to educate yourself and once you are absolutely sure of it hire a mobile app developer. That will lead you throughout the development process and give you the best result. The quality of the app should be top-notch, that is the one area you can’t compromise in, even if you are planning to launch a location-based mobile app. The demand for these Map API has been on a rise and there are better future prospects of the location-based mobile apps in the coming years as seen in the reports of some of the most notable researches.

With the help of python development services and an experienced app development team, you can build your own map API for location-based mobile apps. Emizentech is a leading app development company that can help you in developing innovative mobile apps. So, if you have an app idea then get in touch with us.

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Author

CTO at Emizentech and a member of the Forbes technology council, Amit Samsukha, is acknowledged by the Indian tech world as an innovator and community builder. He has a well-established vocation with 12+ years of progressive experience in the technology industry. He directs all product initiatives, worldwide sales and marketing, and business enablement. He has spearheaded the journey in the e-commerce landscape for various businesses in India and the U.S.