Against Google Maps
With controversy over Google’s demand of detailed Korean map data lingering, Korean map service companies such as Naver and Kakao have begun to strike back against Google.
Both companies began to build their own map service ecosystems, widening the scope of the free opening of their application programming interfaces (APIs). Industry experts analyze that they collect big data about users’ moves to apply them to their future services such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT).
Kakao announced on Oct. 26 that the company will increase the daily limit of free map API uses to 300,000 views for corporations and 200,000 views for individuals. The figures are four times as many as before. If exceeding the limit, a corporation or an individual needs to sign a contract with Kakao.
Earlier, Naver announced on Oct. 11 that they will give both individuals and corporations a limit of 200,000 views for web and mobile applications, respectively. Before, Naver’s limit was 5,000 views per day for an application and 100,000 views per day on the web. In addition, commercial use required additional tie procedures.
The term API refers to a technological standard needed when business operators offer access to their specific technological services to third parties, such as when online map companies work with hospitals, shopping malls or cafés. It has been pointed out that even though a map API is regarded as an essential service for business operators who connect online and offline, Korean map service companies offer a small number of daily free service uses, making barriers for such business operators in utilizing map services for their business.
Industry watchers forecast that Naver and Kakao will expand the number of users by widening the scope of the free opening of their map APIs against Google. At present, in the case of the Google map application, it is used free of charge without any conditions such as forming business ties with Google or paying fees to Google. But if the number of views on the web surpasses 25,000, the global search giant receives US$0.50 per 1,000 views.
Naver and Kakao are eyeing an improvement in their map data services in addition to the expansion of their map APIs. Kakao applied map rotation and 3D sky views to its map services in September, while Naver added a panoramic view function to its map service in June.
Google asked for map data at the scale of 1:5,000 from the Korean government in June, saying that they wanted to offer an innovative map service using its API in Korea. At the time, the council on map shipment began discussing this matter and will announce the results on Nov. 23.
Industry watchers are predicting that Korean and foreign companies will wage a war over map data. In particular, these companies are stressing cooperation with startups by offering map data free of charge. Developers are planning to embrace promising startups to their platforms. “Map data are a container of all technologies needed for the fourth industrial revolution," said a representative of the Korea Association of Spatial Information. “As all big data are included in maps, competition will begin on a full scale soon.”