Foursquare ditches Google Maps

Foursquare has revealed that it is to stop using the Google Maps API and instead work with data from OpenStreetMap, specifically through MapBox. The company explained that a number of reasons were behind the change, including this giving Foursquare greater design flexibility and enabling it to work with more open source technology.

Foursquare also admitted that "Google Maps API pricing was the reason we initially started looking into other solutions", although it claimed the switch ultimately occurred because "after all of our research and testing, OpenStreetMap and MapBox was simply the best fit for us". Although when we reported on the new pricing structure for the Google Maps API back in October 2011, we reasoned that indies might be hit by the changes, it's a surprise to see a relative industry giant move to an open solution.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of eight full-time members of staff: Editor Georgia Coggan, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Ecommerce Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Editor, Digital Art and 3D Ian Dean, Tech Reviews Editor Erlingur Einarsson and Ecommerce Writer Beth Nicholls and Staff Writer Natalie Fear, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The 3D World and ImagineFX magazine teams also pitch in, ensuring that content from 3D World and ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq. 

TOPICS