Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of sites can the Open API be used on?

The Open API can be used on most sites, although you should not use the Open API for commercial websites, or for internal business applications. The site into which you integrate the Open API must be offered for free to users; you should not build paid-for services with the API. The API may also not be used as part of a mobile or wireless service, or in any real-time tracking applications or services.

If you would like to use an API for these purposes, please see our business services for details of our commercial Multimap API

The Open API shouldn't be used in conjunction with any materials that are defamatory, obscene, unlawful, harmful to minors or otherwise illegal, or that breach another individual's right to privacy.

How does Multimap make the Open API freely available to developers?

So that the Open API can be made freely available to the development community, Multimap has contributed free transactions to the tune of 5% of the traffic to multimap.com. If that sounds a lot, that's because it is. If it doesn't sound a lot, bear in mind that we provide a global service delivering more maps, directions, address look-ups and searches than anyone else in Europe.

What types of data can I mash-up with the Open API?

The Open API is all about encouraging, experimenting and innovating, so we encourage you to try to mash it up with as many different types of data as possible.

There are a few restrictions that we ask you to adhere to however. For example, you should not use any element of the Multimap Open API with another supplier's mapping or travel directions API or services. We also ask that you do not capture or retain any of the maps, routes, or geocodes generated by the Open API.

If you are interested in storing geocoded address records, please contact us about our business services.

Is there any limit on how many maps I can use?

There is no hard upper limit, but in the interests of fairness, we ask that individual users use no more than 1% of the community's total traffic. If you think that you will use a greater amount of the community's transactions, contact us via the forums at http://forums.multimap.com, so we can discuss how we can work together to help you grow.

Which elements of the Open API can I customise?

Most elements of the Open API can be customised and our documentation will help you with this. We do ask however that you do not alter or remove any copyright notice, logos, digital watermarks or proprietary legends contained in or on the maps or other components of the API.

How will you advise me of any changes to the Open API?

While we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your use of the service at any time, we will do our best to give you advance notice of any material change to or termination of the service via the Open API forums at http://forums.multimap.com .

Can you guarantee the service will always be available?

Short answer: no

Longer answer: We'll always try our best to make sure the service is available, however we do not provide warranties for the Open API, and the terms of use also limit our liability (these terms are detailed in Clause 7 and we ask you to read them, as well as the service restrictions on your use of the API, and your responsibilities, carefully).

If you are looking for Service Level Agreements, telephone support and account management, contact us about our business services.