We had a meeting with Google this week and while we are under an NDA and can not disclose the details of our conversation with them, we can clarify the dates and the nature of Google’s announcement that was made public and that caused a little bit of confusion due to their vague explanations:
Google Base will be discontinued on June 1, 2011
Google Base is the database product by Google which is used by many to post and query for all different kinds of information. Furthermore, Google Base provides an API (programming interface) that enables 3rd parties like us to build services on top of it, like the RealBird Property Search application. One of the data types in Google Base was real estate. Google will migrate most of the Google Base capabilities into their Google Shopping API, but unfortunately, this does not include support for real estate listings. They will not support this data type in their Shopping API therefore syndicating and querying for real estate listings to and from Google Base (i.e. there new Shopping API) will not be available after June 1, 2011
Google Maps will stop showing real estate listings by Feb 10, 2011
This second announcement is what created the confusion. Even though Google Base will operate until June 1, 2011, Google Maps at http://maps.google.com will stop showing real estate listings from Google Base. Google Maps will of course continue to work, except Google Base real estate listings won’t be shown if searched for. This does NOT mean that Google Base will also be discontinued on Feb 10. It only means that Google will not pull and show the data from Google Base onto their own consumer facing Google Maps site.
Google Maps and Google Maps API will NOT be discontinued
One of the confusions we noticed because of the vague announcements by Google was that some of you thought that it will also mean that Google will discontinue the Google Maps API that enables us to provide Google Maps for your RealBird property websites or other real estate services. This is NOT the case, the maps themselves are not affected whatsoever.
Now onto RealBird. What’s affected, what’s not and what is our plan
As you know, we have 2 services:
- RealBird Property Search
Solution: new data source is on its way
This service enables you to acquire buyer leads via a powerful, fast and flexible private labeled search engine – it benefits you on the buyer side of the real estate transactions - RealBird Listing Publisher
NOT affected
An all-in-one online, mobile and social media listing marketing platform – it benefits you on the listing side by providing you with tools to get more listings and sell them faster
The RealBird Property Search uses data from Google Base hence it has to be redeveloped with new data. We have been working on finding a replacement data feed for some time now, and are now intensifying our efforts. We will keep you updated as our business and technical development process continues. We are working around the clock to provide you with a smooth transition. Until then, you can continue to use the current RealBird Property Search as the Google Base API will be available until June 1, 2011
The RealBird Listing Publisher service is not affected, and by itself is the best and most affordable online marketing toolset in the real estate industry:
The RealBird Listing Publisher is an easy to use, all-in-one property marketing tool that does not use Google Base except for Google Base being one of the syndication destinations. As an overview, below are the main features of this service:
- Automatic listing syndication
- Single property websites with exceptional Google SEO
- MLS-friendly virtual tours
- Easily embeddable in ActiveRain posts, Craigslist ads and more
- Social media marketing widgets and applications
- Mobile listing marketing with smartphone optimized listing sites and QR codes
- Listing inventory widgets for your blogs and maps
Gabe, Zoltan & Co – many thanks for your efforts. I certainly hope you can find a new great listings data source for RB, and I know we all will be rooting for you.
IDX providers can be very expensive.
Was never concerned about the listing publisher. It’s the property search that worries me. I hope you are able to find a viable alternative soon. Google Base going away is a big deal.
Thanks for the update. In my area the Google Base results have not been in the 90% accuracy range and thus, I welcome a superior replacement.
I am deploying the RealBird map search more and more so, any assistance with the transition (if necessary) is greatly welcome!
Kim – Thanks for the support. We are working around the clock to beat the clock 🙂
James – I agree. It’s a big deal on many levels. I know you and most of the members understood the distinction between the Listing Publisher and the Property Search but in the last few days we received so many emails asking for clarification that we wanted to spell it out.
John – We were “betting” on Google getting better and better as adaptation and acceptance grew, both vertically (data accuracy) and horizontally (coverage). Well, they decided otherwise. We are of course considering the ease of transition as a factor while working toward a new data source. We’ll post more details as soon as we know the details
Thank you very much for reading and commenting !
I can honestly say from a rental listing service, Realbird is second to none. The irony of the statement from Google is that was basically received the same day that I officially completed my rental company website that was designed around your product (MLS IDX services are useless for me)!! Hundreds of hours later, I’m eager and excited to see what you come up with.
I wonder if some of the data feed providers could just start sourcing their info to you rather than google as the “middleman”.
Based on the innovation I found at Realbird, I’m optimistic you will be able to overcome this in time.
http://www.newportmanagementcorp.com
Douglas – So sorry to hear that the timing was so bad for you. Believe me, we were not happy with Google’s sudden announcement either ! We spent two years on R&D and marketing this service with many happy users. That’s the bad news.
The GOOD news is that we are already working on the replacement data source. It’s a parallel business development/R&D task and we can not disclose details until we are sure that we can actually deliver (both at the business and at the technical level), but we are very optimistic. We will let everybody know the details just as soon as we can.
Thanks for your patience,
— Zoltan
Your product has been excellent from day 1. I am certain you will find a work around to this. http://TheFutureofRealEstateToday.com
Let me know your Base alternative as soon as you can. I was really counting on GB for my solution and sunk many hours developing for this ‘free’ solution.
http://makingmedicine.com/ff/ffws.html
Now it will soon be gone, and I still have not found a suitable replacement 🙁
Marco – The Oodle solution is robust now and provides comparable data coverage to Google’s. Did you try the RealBird Property Search with Oodle data?