Personally, I prefer MGMaps (and will continue to use it) over GoogleMapsMobile for simple navigation even without GPS. They have more options and are updated FAR quicker and more often.

I must say that I did not revceive any feedback from them (including from the address supposed sending this letter), even a negative one!

Of course in a perfect world they would have spent the time and effort to turn a resist email into a sales/promotion opportunity. But lets get real..

I think the point here is that the letter was standard legalese, but by legal terms it was already VERY soft, and it pretty much outwardly told him what to do in order to sort the issue out without outwardly condoning his actions. From what they said in the letter, Google themselves license in much of the content and have this to bear in mind also.

Christian basically got his knickers in a twist and started righting silly blog posts rather than calling up Google straight away and getting permission. He’s cut his nose of to spite his face as far as I can see.

Ewan, when you’re CEO of big corp you can make sure to either employ end to end 2.0 stylised guru’s, or you can personally over see each and every legal letter that goes out. Again, sorry, but LOL.

The letter was standard legal banter, and would have been sent by someone who has probably never even seen his offering. Welcome to the commercial world. I’m not saying its the case here, but I think it’s always beneficial for entrepeneurs and new product trailblazers to have even a modicum of previous ‘real world’ exprerience.

This letter is practically infers that permission for him to use the service will be given if he actually bothers to use some courtesy and ask Google first.

Secondly, it is well known in the geo community about the T’s and C’s that go along with using the API, especially the direct tile access.

The reason is simple, Google, even though they are a big company still has to license each map tile from Navteq or Teleatlas. This is a per tile license fee, which Google picks up the cost of.

All mobile applications that tie into GMaps access the tiles directly, which is a hit on Google for every request.

This is why location based startupsget stuck; because having a real, licensed mapping engine is expensive, and to get Google, Yahoo or Microsoft’s map coverage would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

It sucks, but that’s how it works. There are so many people in the chain who need a cut; from the license holder (e.g. the Ordanance Surve), the maping provider (Navteq/Teleatlas) and Google. Each with their own margins, each with their own pricing model.