Map Keys 2005-03-10:Meet the Mapquest API

Mapquest Delivers its Open API; announces contest

This week, Mapquest finally joined the mashup party with the relase of its API, called Mapquest Open API Beta. It’s a javascript suite that allows for customized mashups in the already-popular style of Google Maps and Yahoo! Maps, and boasts the following features:

• Route finding: A traditonal strong Mapquest strong point, is now available to Open API users
• Mapping styles: multiple points can be plotted, and a variety of styles are available to create a unified design sense with the site that the mashup is embedded within
• Active Point Markers: up to 100 user-definable points per map. Events can be added to each that will display on rollover or on-click

Though late to the party, Mapquest seems to want to bring it to compete. To get the people’s attention, Mapquest has announced a contest, the OpenAPI Developers Challenge. To compete, all one has to do is come up with an innovative use of OpenAPI that, according to Mapquest:

There are only two requirements: one must register for the MapQuest OpenAPI, accepting terms of service, and that entry must be completed by the 31st of March. The winner is to recieve a $1,000 prize and a trip to the O’Reilly® Where 2.0 conference (13-14 June, San Jose, CA) where they will get a chance to demo thier winning mashup.

We’ve registered for the OpenAPI ourselves and are planning a report when we get access.

And here are the links:

• Mapquest OpenAPI main page
• Mapquest OpenAPI Developers Challenge rules and access
• Mapzierge, an OpenAPI mashup that will show you a map of any area or address you select and by checking various boxes and specifiying a date and a range, will show you events, concerts, or bars and clubs in the area you’ve chosen

As we said, the mashup deadline is 31 March…so, get busy!

(Via The Map Room)