Question

I want to use the MapViewController in an iOS app (to allow the user to find the adress of where he is currently at) and came across the “Google Maps Terms of Service for iPhone SDK”, but I am a bit lost what some of this means in practice, i.e. what do I need to be aware of and what do I need to do when using a MapViewController. Specifically:

9.2 Reporting. You must implement those reporting mechanisms that Google
has set forth and may update from time
to time in these Terms and in the Maps
API Documentation. For example, as
specified in the Maps API
Documentation, you agree to provide
reports to Google if your Maps API
Implementation enables a device to
detect its own location through use of
a sensor (including but not limited to
GPS, cell triangulation, WiFi or
similar functionality) to display the
location of the device on a map or to
calculate a route.

Obviously I am enabling the device to detect its own location by showing the map with the current location marker. I got lost trying to find some details on what that “reporting” means and if and what kind of it I am supposed implement.

Thanks,
Timo

Answer 1

Taken from Google Maps API Terms of Service:

How does the Google Maps APIs key system work?

Google Maps API keys are only required when using the JavaScript Maps API v2 and the Maps API for Flash [emphasis added].

In order to obtain a Google Maps API key, you must sign in to your Google Account and agree to our Terms of Service. There is no limit to the number of keys you may obtain under a single account.

When you use MKMapView as part of the iPhone SDK, you are using it under Apple’s license with Google for the map service. Therefore you do not need to separately agree to the Google Maps API Terms of Service or implement any functionality to meet this requirement.