Microsoft Pushing Bing Maps Integration for iOS Apps With New SDK

MacRumors · May 6, 2011

As noted by Business Insider, Microsoft earlier this week quietly introduced a new Bing Maps Control for iOS software development kit, making it easier for developers to integrate Bing maps directly into their applications.The Bing Maps iOS Control is an Objective-C control for embedding maps directly into native iOS apps. With a rich, gesture-based UI provided by Seadragon, the Bing Maps iOS Control provides support for adding pushpins and other overlays to the map, allows your device location to be displayed, and provides the ability to retrieve contextual information for a given map location.More details on the SDK, which Microsoft will help it eat into Google's dominance in maps integration on iOS, are available in a Microsoft blog post.

Article Link: Microsoft Pushing Bing Maps Integration for iOS Apps With New SDK

jayducharme · May 6, 2011

Interesting that they're offering this for iOS. It seems they'd focus on integrating it into the Windows Phone platform first. Wonder if they'll also make it for Android....

supmango · May 6, 2011

I typically expect Microsoft to fail miserably at most things they do, and certainly WP7 has proven to be no exception. For once I sincerely hope that is not the case, because anything that might interfere with Google's attempts at world domination sound good to me. If someone uses it in their app, I would be interested in trying it out on my iPad. Hopefully it's not buggy.

iScott428 · May 6, 2011

supmango said:
I typically expect Microsoft to fail miserably at most things they do, and certainly WP7 has proven to be no exception. For once I sincerely hope that is not the case, because anything that might interfere with Google's attempts at world domination sound good to me. If someone uses it in their app, I would be interested in trying it out on my iPad. Hopefully it's not buggy.

Very well said. An option to switch between the two on maps would be excellent! Birds Eye view on my iPad or iPhone, yes please!

hexor · May 6, 2011

It also appears that there is no restrictions on using this mapping SDK in a paid app, unlike Google which only allows you to use the Map SDK in iOS for free Apps unless you go through extra hoops/fees.

AriX · May 6, 2011

Hah, that's funny. The code sample pictured in this post is a direct clone of Apple's MapKit (Google Maps) sample, "MapCallouts."

ciTiger · May 6, 2011

This will be handy because google maps have a lot of limitations for developers...

Xenc · May 6, 2011

AriX said:
Hah, that's funny. The code sample pictured in this post is a direct clone of Apple's MapKit (Google Maps) sample, "MapCallouts."

I'm sure that's the whole point: to demonstrate the same implementation can be carried out with their code.

nwcs · May 6, 2011

Interesting. I might have to give this a try!

domness · May 6, 2011

I wonder how the speed of the offered API differs compared to that of MapKit.

caspersoong · May 6, 2011

I think this will reduce customer satisfaction as there are 2 types of maps that users have to get used to now...

ArtOfWarfare · May 6, 2011

What does Microsoft stand to gain in offering this?

Tres · May 6, 2011

Sorry Microsoft, this is all I can think about now whenever I see the word "bing":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GM4Lt5k24s

2 Replies · May 6, 2011

ArtOfWarfare said:
What does Microsoft stand to gain in offering this?

What does Google gain from offering their maps on iOS?

2 Replies · May 6, 2011

supmango said:
I typically expect Microsoft to fail miserably at most things they do, and certainly WP7 has proven to be no exception. For once I sincerely hope that is not the case, because anything that might interfere with Google's attempts at world domination sound good to me. If someone uses it in their app, I would be interested in trying it out on my iPad. Hopefully it's not buggy.

Proven?

Reference to your proof please.
The phone OS has only been out for 6 months and you're already calling it a proven failure?
Sorry bud, but such statements are the trademark of a true fool.

deannnnn · May 6, 2011

I can't imagine many developers taking advantage of this. Even with an SDK, when the options for Google and Bing are in front of you, most people will go with Google. I know I would.

nwcs · May 7, 2011

deannnnn said:
I can't imagine many developers taking advantage of this. Even with an SDK, when the options for Google and Bing are in front of you, most people will go with Google. I know I would.

If the license allows for free commercial redistribution and googles doesn't... I bet developers would use it.

Gemütlichkeit · May 7, 2011

I'll use whichever app is faster.

I notice bing tends to load more "crap" when using their map program. This might not seem like a big deal on a desktop but on a smartphone every bit counts.

guzhogi · May 7, 2011

supmango said:
because anything that might interfere with Google's attempts at world domination sound good to me.

Google is nothing. World domination? Pfft. They think way too small. I'm planning GALACTIC domination!

As for Microsoft's maps, yay competition!

kasei · May 9, 2011

hexor said:
It also appears that there is no restrictions on using this mapping SDK in a paid app, unlike Google which only allows you to use the Map SDK in iOS for free Apps unless you go through extra hoops/fees.

Oh there is a fee to use Bing maps in paid apps. It is not cheap!

Microsoft Pushing Bing Maps Integration for iOS Apps With New SDK

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