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Google's Next Big Money Maker Could Be the Maps on Your Phone (bloomberg.com)
Google became the world's most profitable internet company on the back of search advertising. Now, it's turning another popular web service into a major cash machine. From a report: Google Maps is an indispensable part of life for more than 1 billion people, who use it to commute, explore new cities or find a hot new restaurant. The service has been mostly free, and free from ads, since it launched 14 years ago.
Interviews with Google executives and customers show this is changing as the internet giant increases the ways advertisers can reach Maps users, while raising prices for some businesses that use the underlying technology. The app now regularly highlights sponsored locations, and shows extra paid listings when people look for nearby gas stations, coffee shops or other businesses. "There's a big opportunity for them to ramp up monetization," said Andy Taylor, associate director of research at digital marketing agency Merkle. "They've been slow-playing it."
"Sometimes I say the most under-monetized asset that I cover is Google Maps," Brian Nowak, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, said while interviewing Google's business chief Philipp Schindler at a recent conference. "It's almost like a utility where it's kind of waiting for you to flip the switch on." Schindler's response showed that Google isn't waiting anymore.
Interviews with Google executives and customers show this is changing as the internet giant increases the ways advertisers can reach Maps users, while raising prices for some businesses that use the underlying technology. The app now regularly highlights sponsored locations, and shows extra paid listings when people look for nearby gas stations, coffee shops or other businesses. "There's a big opportunity for them to ramp up monetization," said Andy Taylor, associate director of research at digital marketing agency Merkle. "They've been slow-playing it."
"Sometimes I say the most under-monetized asset that I cover is Google Maps," Brian Nowak, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, said while interviewing Google's business chief Philipp Schindler at a recent conference. "It's almost like a utility where it's kind of waiting for you to flip the switch on." Schindler's response showed that Google isn't waiting anymore.
Fuck up your best thing going, see who replaces you.
If it must be monetized, I'd rather pay for it than have it direct my to a business that has paid to promote itself, if at the same time it does not show others.
Google has effectively killed off all of those applications that used their "free" map API. Just look at Geotracker, ExifTool GUI or presubscription Adobe Lightroom Maps. All of them are essentially dead since the projects are no longer being developed. There is a real cost to developing freely available programs now. FOSS software using Google's new API will now cost the developers money.
Start using Bing Maps - at least Microsoft is not charging for that service - yet.
"Sometimes I say the most under-monetized asset that I cover is Google Maps," Brian Nowak, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, said while interviewing Google's business chief Philipp Schindler at a recent conference...
Morgan Stanley, Brrrr.... just hearing those two words makes my skin crawl. People should consider replacing Google Maps with Open Street Map. I've been using mobile apps that use this mapping service for a few years now. It's every bit as good as Google Maps and the offline function is vastly superior to what you get with Google Maps app. Using Open Street Map also has the added benefit of starving the beast (a.k.a. Google).
OpenStreetMap's Android app works like a charm offline, is in F-Droid, and costs nothing.
I especially like its track recording feature with height map and everything. Plus favorites/notes with text/images/sound. And all are just simple files.
But the fact that every damn trash can (literally!) and footpath in our city and surrounding forests is in there is just damn amazing!
Why again would I use Google Maps?
Has it any features to offer that OSM hasn't?
I have a 2016 Dodge Durango. I love the car, and the nav. system works great as well. The maps in the nav. system are Google and the most recent upgrade is for retail purchase and they want 149.00 for the update which is ridiculous and I won't buy it, which means my nav. system will slowly lose usefulness. Granted I will probably trade in the car within 2 years as my warranty expires, but still it shows that Google isn't missing too many opportunities to monetize anything and everything. I used to use Gmail and many of their other services, but as the company went from 'do no evil' to 'make a buck' at any cost lower than a buck I moved over to other providers for everything including a search engine.
errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
I've been trying to get rid of Google for years, but gmail and google maps (especially via Waze) are the most valuable things in Google's portfolio. Replacing Google search with Duck Duck Go was painless. But Google's map product is the best one on the market.
Alternatives:
Apple Maps -- not bad really, but the estimates are too conservative, and the routes aren't always optimal, and the traffic is often out of date
HERE Maps -- formerly Nokia HERE, these offer offline navigation. Traffic is optional.I am not sure if it does voice or not.
Are there others? I don't know. I use Waze mostly for the police identification (not that I even drive fast anymore, but I think it's fun to screw the opportunists trying to make money off people who just want to get home).
- Vincit qui patitur.