What is a good api map for a commercial application?

Question

The last thing I checked Google and Yahoo, does NOT allow you to place your cards for login for a commercial application. Not sure about Microsoft. The only other option that I know of is OpenStreeMaps, which I believe is free. OpenStreetMaps says to use one of these third-party APIs OpenLayers, Mapstraction, Staticmaps or CloudMade Web Maps Lite for your maps

Did I miss anyone?

So my question will be more specific: in terms of price, quality, performance and ease of implementation, which is better?

Purchasing a license from Google, Yahoo or Microsoft may be an option, if possible. OpenStreeMaps' concern is quality, performance, and ease of implementation.

Note: we are only interested in the JavaScript API.

Answer 1

I would give +1 to the Polymaps front, because the guys from SimpleGeo and Stamen (with the help of Mike Bostok) did a great job with the library. It is fast, easy to use and powerful.

Also, I think the following is worth checking out.

• OpenLayers is not so vibrant, but very powerful and well-supported by an active community. Mobile support is a bit absent at the moment (if this is important for you), but active development is ongoing to try to solve this problem.

• Tile5 is a fairly new library focused on HTML5 and mobile functions, but representing compatibility with IE7 and higher. Disclaimer: I started the library and continue to work on Tile5, so I think this is very good, but I also think that these other libraries as well.

• Leaflet - just announced from the Cloudmade mapping company (based on OSM cards), this API offers similar compatibility with Tile5 and I have to say that it is very well done.

The good news is that I believe that you are spoiled for choice, this is just a question of what is important to you, and then make a choice in the library that best suits your requirements.