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Maxmind javascript geolocation change...? (8)

07-05-2013 07:07 AM #1 timtetra ()
Maxmind javascript geolocation change...?

Everyone and their mom uses maxmind's geoip database, and for years, they simply allowed anyone to use their javascript hosted on their website for free, in exchange for an attribution link to them (which of course no one in the AM world does on our landers lol). While I was updating my mobile carrier database from them, I noticed they revamped their website from the 1999 web 1.0 style website to a newer one, and noticed that they put up some new conditions over at:

http://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/legacy/javascript/

TO highlight a part:

MaxMind offers an API which returns JavaScript code for the client's IP address. This comes in two flavors, city and country. This service can be purchased separately from our other GeoIP web services.

This service was previously available in various free offerings. These were discontinued as of May 1. Please see the GeoIP2 JavaScript service for our current free offerings.

Upon following the link to the new geoip, over at:

http://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/geoip2/javascript/

You see that they say there's both a free and paid service, but they specifically say in either case:

All domains using the service must be registered. New users may sign up for an account. Existing users are able to register domains directly.

Now it's obviously quite some time after May 1, and I'm still able to call the js located on their servers without putting in my domain or anything. Anyone know what the deal with this is?

07-05-2013 08:13 AM #2 vidivo (Member)

whats the problem? it works just fine i think your over thinking things.

07-05-2013 10:36 AM #3 caurmen (Administrator)

Hmm, sounds like MaxMind are tightening up generally - see also this post from Soulest where they were asking for domain and usage details.

If it's working right now, that's good, but I too would be interested to find out if they're planning on pulling or limiting their services in future. Might call them and ask if I get a chance.

07-05-2013 01:49 PM #4 timtetra ()

Yeah I've gotten the domain not registered error once but I couldn't reproduce it. The problem is some scripts I have affect some of my campaigns where if it suddenly goes offline, I will lose out on xxxx profit that day until it gets resolved (if it does that day and their server isn't ddos'd from so many people signing up for the service etc). Pretty stupidly easy thing to get resolved to never have to deal with it if that's the case.

07-05-2013 01:50 PM #5 zeno (Administrator)

What are the advantages of using their javascript service in the first place? One would think PHP modules + database installed on your server would be simpler and outperform it in all scenarios...

07-05-2013 05:51 PM #6 vaalion (Member)

Quote Originally Posted by zeno View Post
What are the advantages of using their javascript service in the first place? One would think PHP modules + database installed on your server would be simpler and outperform it in all scenarios...
Do you have a webpage that shows how to do that? It would probably be faster to have it hosted on my server too...

07-05-2013 08:11 PM #7 rafael (Member)

Here's some info from CTRTard:

Blazing Geo Lookups! How To Install Maxmind PHP Extension on Your Server

Looks much better than using external JS files. Never tried it myself though, hehe. I might get around to it now.

Thanks for the heads up timtetra.

07-05-2013 10:22 PM #8 timtetra ()

Quote Originally Posted by zeno View Post
What are the advantages of using their javascript service in the first place? One would think PHP modules + database installed on your server would be simpler and outperform it in all scenarios...
The main difference is the accuracy for the free one they give out is lower than the one that's provided by the javascript/their premium databases.

This is the accuracy of their premium databases:

https://www.maxmind.com/en/city_accuracy

vs the accuracy of their free ones:

http://www.maxmind.com/en/geolite_city_accuracy

Something to keep in mind. For me, I was already using their PHP geolite city for a different application and it works well enough, but have been using the js for the most up-to-date city data on all my INTL stuff since there was very little reason to not use it. May have to re-evaluate soon.

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