Open Source Maps Gain Ground as Google Paywall Looms | Wired Enterprise | Wired.com

Open Source Maps Gain Ground as Google Paywall Looms | Wired Enterprise | Wired.com.

Good read about Mapping technology and how Google is going to start charging.. YIPES!

OpenStreetMap, or OSM, is yet another example of a project that manages to compete with a massive tech company simply by crowdsourcing a problem. Much like Wikipedia challenged Encyclopedia Britannica and Linux took on Microsoft Windows, OpenStreetMap is battling Google Maps, and at least in some cases, it’s winning.

OpenStreetMap founder Steve Coast says the project is “still waiting for the big one.” But in addition to Nestoria and making the leap to OSM, some bigger organizations have taken note. The White House employed OSM to track its Change campaign, and in 2008, the popular photo-sharing site…